San Diego transit system initiates safety and security task force

With the help of a $1 million grant administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) has partnered with law enforcement officials at five agencies to kick off a new joint task force aimed at increasing safety and security within the city's transit system.

MTS received the funds through the DHS's Transit Security Grant Program, which set aside a total of $90 million to protect various surface transportation infrastructure across the country.

The task force will employ a mix of undercover and uniformed officers to monitor suspicious activity throughout MTS. It also will target safety efforts on densely populated facilities, such as multimodal transit centers.

Additionally, officials seek to integrate law enforcement officers in MTS security measures, increase information sharing among local law agencies and MTS, and provide directed directed patrols.

"This task force is the next step in the ongoing efforts at MTS to improve the security of passengers and employees," said MTS Chief Executive Officer Paul Jablonski in a statement. "Our efforts have created one of the safest transit systems. It's a record we are proud of and one we will always try to improve."