Riders might be surprised to learn the Metra Police Department is like any other municipal police department, with the job of keeping riders, workers, and the system safe. One big difference, however, is the size of their jurisdiction—the six-county Chicago area that Metra serves.
“We strive to be a professionally run, modern, efficient and effective police force,” said Chief Joe Perez, a decorated 28-year veteran of the Illinois State Police who was hired to lead the Metra Police Department in 2014.
The department uses an interactive simulator to conduct scenario-based training on use of force, de-escalation, and other decision-making. And it has a mobile firing range that is saving Metra money while keeping officers up to date on weapons qualifications and best practices.
The department has a full-time detective division (including internal investigations) and, perhaps most visibly, a squad whose primary duty is to ride and patrol thousands of trains annually.
Included in the Special Operations Unit are licensed drone pilots who provide crash scene data-mapping capabilities, in addition to aerial support for missing people. The department added a command van in 2019 to augment on-scene critical incident management.
Officers are equipped with Tasers (which have reduced injuries to police and arrestees), body cameras, and laptops for field reporting with new software to write police reports—all to adopt the best police practices in the country.
Your safety is always our number one priority.
Use COPS app to report concerns
Did you know there is a way to report crimes, suspicious activity and other safety or security concerns on trains or in stations quickly and discreetly to Metra Police? It’s the free Metra COPS app and it’s available in the App Store and Google Play.
The app is meant for the reporting of safety and security issues on Metra trains and facilities, such as a crime in progress, disruptive or aggressive behavior, suspicious activity, unattended bags or packages, vandalism, panhandling, fare evasion or other concerns. (Please don’t use it for customer service issues, service disruptions
or travel information.)
Metra Police dispatchers can respond to the customer through the app, send out advisories and broadcast “Be on the Lookout” alerts to app users.
Customers also can still report safety and security concerns to Metra Police
at 312-322-2800.