Chicago CTA security surge plan boosts police and K-9 patrols

Chicago CTA security surge plan will increase patrol staffing across the transit system. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and the Chicago Police Department (CPD) describe the joint approach to safety on buses and trains in a CTA news release.

Officials said the security surge centers on CPD’s Voluntary Special Employment Program (VSEP), which uses sworn officers who sign up to patrol the CTA on their days off. Under the plan, the average daily number of officers assigned through VSEP is expected to rise from 77 to 120.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

CTA said the increase is made possible by CTA funding to expand the program, and the agency’s FY2026 budget issued in October noted that additional investments would be made to bring more Chicago Police officers into the system. As Metro Magazine reports, the added staffing is intended to increase security visibility.

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Chicago CTA security surge plan: staffing changes under VSEP

VSEP patrols supplement CPD’s Public Transportation Section and district police officers who also work transit coverage. CTA added that it has VSEP programs for additional police resources with three area suburbs, providing another layer of sworn law enforcement officers supporting the system.

In addition to the police patrol increase, private security canine (K-9) staffing will also grow, officials said. The average daily number of canine security guards is set to increase from 172 to 188, adding another visible security element alongside CPD officers.

CTA and CPD deployment strategy and coordination

CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen said CPD officers remain central to CTA’s multilayered security strategy and highlighted the partnership with Superintendent Snelling and his staff. She said the added police and K-9 presence is expected to further increase security visibility on the system.

Under the security surge plan, CTA and CPD will work together to strategically deploy the added resources using combined crime data and CTA system information. The approach reflects the agencies’ longstanding partnership and daily communication.

Reported crime trends on the CTA system

According to statistics reported earlier this month by CPD, crimes on CTA’s system are down 19% for the month of November compared to 2024. That same category is down 3% year-to-date compared to the same period last year, based on CPD statistics.

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