Metro Transit-St. Louis equips security officers with body cameras

Rail News Home Security 8/6/2020 Rail News: Security
The cameras will ensure transparency and accountability to the public when addressing security issues, agency officials said.Photo – Metro Transit-St. Louis

Metro Transit-St. Louis yesterday announced that all of the agency’s uniformed and field-deployed transit security officers have been equipped with body-worn cameras since July 20 to improve scene documentation. 

The new tool will ensure transparency and accountability to the public when addressing security issues, Metro Transit-St. Louis officials said in a press release. Local law enforcement partners also will have access to the camera footage when conducting their investigations relating to crimes occurring on the Metro Transit system. 

“In our current world, documentation and accountability are absolutely paramount,” said Kevin Scott, general manager of field security at Metro Transit-St. Louis.

Metro Transit-St. Louis acquired the cameras under a five-year lease program with Axon Enterprise Inc. that is being paid for out of the public safety team’s operating budget.

The cameras are worm by the agency’s transit security specialists, who work in conjunction with G4S contracted security guards while riding on the MetroLink trains, checking the platforms, responding to calls and coordinating with local law enforcement partners.