Report Criticizes Metra's Police Force
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A consultant has issued a highly critical report about Metra's police force. But as WBBM's Bob Roberts reports, the commuter rail agency says it has been taking action for months on the consultant's findings.
The report says Metra's police force has been slow to transition from one that protects property to one that prevents crime and guards against terrorists.
Interim CEO Don Orseno says Metra began to act the moment it began to receive feedback from consultant Hillard Heintze more than a year ago.
"We're changing our strategy and I really can't go over what we are doing for security reasons because that wouldn't be a fair assessment. We're going to be out there protecting our assets with an enhanced focus our riding trains," said Orseno.
The report calls for more patrols on trains and at stations and it says that weapon certification is woefully out of date. Orseno says quarterly weapons training is reinstated, radios are upgraded, and all officers are trained in CPR and defibrillators.