METRO Police increases safety measures on public transit following rise in violent incidents.
HOUSTON — METRO Police is stepping up efforts to protect riders after a series of violent incidents on buses and trains this year.
Chief Ban Tien provided an update Tuesday during a Houston City Council Public Safety Committee meeting, highlighting the department’s work to keep riders safe as demand for public transit grows.
Officials said METRO ridership is up, with nearly 75 million riders this fiscal year — numbers that are approaching pre-pandemic levels. Tien added that METRO Police is now fully staffed with about 200 frontline officers.
The chief pointed to several initiatives designed to deter crime, including satellite police stations, increased officer visibility on train platforms, and outreach programs that connect homeless riders with resources.
“We have on a monthly basis been taking guns off the street from criminals, on a regular basis,” Tien said. “I can only imagine the number of crimes we’ve prevented. Also, we’ve been working in collaboration with the homeless coalition to get them resources where they’re most needed.”
When asked about specific crime hotspots, Tien did not provide details but said the department tracks that data closely and deploys resources where needed.
Tien also noted that METRO Police is preparing for major upcoming events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is expected to bring a significant influx of riders to Houston’s transit system.
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