Presence

Layers of presence

We are committed to providing a consistently safe, clean, and welcoming experience on our system. A cornerstone of our work is the ongoing effort to expand the official presence on transit by bringing more police officers, Community Service Officers, supplemental security officers, Transit Rider Investment Program (TRIP) Agents, and service providers onto the system.

We also continue to work closely with our many regional partners to support the shared work of addressing the larger, societal issues that appear on transit.

Below is a look at who you'll see on transit, and the role each group plays while on the system. Learn more about our ongoing efforts to improve public safety on transit.

Police Officers

Metro Transit police officers respond to and investigate all crimes reported on transit and at transit facilities throughout the region. They also work with and assist partner law enforcement agencies. In addition to patrolling vehicles, stations, and stops, police staff remotely monitor activity onboard trains, buses, and stations using a vast network of real-time security cameras. 

Learn more about becoming a Metro Transit Police Officer

Community Service Officers

Community Service Officers, or CSOs, are part-time members of the Metro Transit Police Department who are enrolled in degree programs and on their way to law enforcement careers. Their duties include educating customers about the Code of Conduct and assisting customers on the system.

 Learn more about becoming a Metro Transit Community Service Officer

Transit Rider Investment Program (TRIP) Agents

Transit Rider Investment Program (TRIP) Agents are primarily responsible for inspecting fares, assisting riders, and upholding the rules for riding; they can also provide first aid, administer Narcan, and provide information about social services. As of November 2025, there are 90+ TRIP Agents working on the system from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m., daily. The goal is to grow this team by another 50% in 2026. TRIP Agents currently work on both light rail lines and the B, C, D, and Gold lines. As the program grows, TRIP Agent presence will expand to additional lines. 

What do TRIP Agents do?

  • Check and enforce fare compliance and write administrative citations when appropriate

  • Support customers with assistance and resources

  • Monitor customer conduct and enforce Metro Transit policies, serving as the eyes and ears on vehicles and at facilities

  • Report disruptive/destructive behavior, facility issues, and refer situations to the appropriate support teams

  • Provide outreach and community resources to customers who may be unsheltered and/or experiencing substance abuse or mental health crisis

  • Assist customers who may need additional accessibility support when riding or those who otherwise request aid

  • Administer first aid and Narcan when needed

When approached by a TRIP Agent, be prepared to show your Go-To Card, transfer, mobile app, or paper ticket. If you do not have any of these, you will be asked to show your ID.

Supplemental security officers

Supplemental security officers monitor high-traffic locations where there have historically been more calls for police service. Currently, security officers are stationed at the Brooklyn Center Transit Center, Franklin Ave. Station, Snelling Ave. Station, I-35W & Lake St. Station, Lake St./Midtown Station, Central Station, and 46th St. Station. Additional security officers travel between locations including the Warehouse District/Hennepin Station, Nicollet Ave. Station, Hamline Ave. Station, Lexington Parkway Station, Victoria St. Station, Dale St. Station, and MSP Airport Terminals 1 and 2. In total, 15 locations are covered by supplemental security for 22-24 hours a day. Additional locations are visited by supplemental security personnel at the end of each service day. Security officers are primarily in place to discourage behaviors like smoking and littering and will contact police when they observe or suspect illegal behavior. 

Safety Ambassadors

Safety Ambassadors from the St. Paul Downtown Improvement District are another layer of official presence at light rail stations and surrounding bus stops in downtown St. Paul. The ambassadors are at these locations to help uphold the Code of Conduct, which addresses behaviors like smoking and littering, provide directions, refer people to service providers, and serve as an additional set of eyes and ears for public safety professionals.

Community-based organizations

We are committed to contracting with community-based organizations whose experts are best equipped to address issues like unsheltered homelessness and substance use disorders that can show up on transit.

Operations staff

Cleaners, public facility workers, and transit supervisors are spread across the system monitoring, cleaning, and maintaining vehicles, station, and other transit facilities. Metro Transit staff are always in uniform while on the system. 

Text for Safety

Have you ever been on a bus or a train and felt unsafe or saw something that just didn’t look right? Silently report issues – any time, any day – using Text for Safety. Text 612-900-0411, and we'll get back to you as quickly as possible.

Learn more about using Text For Safety on the Riders' Almanac blog