The Regional Transit Task Force was announced by Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Regional Transit Task Force Targets Transit Crime
Photo: Chicago Transit Authority

It is a joint initiative involving transit agencies and law enforcement partners at local, county, and federal levels. The task force is intended to strengthen public safety across Chicago-area transit systems.

O’Neill Burke said:

“Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure on public transit,”

“This task force brings law enforcement and transit partners together to share intelligence, deter transit-related crime, and improve public safety better to protect riders, transit workers, and our communities.”

Regional Transit Task Force partners

The RTTF is expected to convene regularly. Its first meeting is scheduled for May 26. Participants include representatives from the CCSAO, the Chicago Police Department, CTA, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the DEA, Metra, and Pace.

CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen said the new group builds on CTA’s existing security strategy.

“The formation of this task force marks a historic moment as CTA expands and builds upon its security strategy,”

“This is an unprecedented partnership that brings together local, county, and federal law enforcement to work alongside every major transit agency in the Chicago region. Our message is simple: Law enforcement at every level is working in tandem with CTA to ensure a vibrant, thriving future for public transit.”

Transit-related crime and evidence support

As Metro Magazine reported, the regional task force follows the creation of the CCSAO’s internal CTA task force. That internal group focuses on effective prosecutions of transit-related crime in Chicago.

In addition, Assistant State’s Attorneys receive specialized training from the CTA and the Chicago Police Department. The training covers video technology that can support law enforcement investigations and be presented in court as evidence.

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