FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
February 10, 2023
MARTA SEES REDUCTION IN
CRIME, ENHANCED SECURITY THANKS TO EFFORTS OF MARTA POLICE DEPARTMENT
MPD Achieves High
Standards of State Law Enforcement Certification
ATLANTA – The
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Police Department (MPD) ensured
MARTA remained a safe, secure system for another year, accomplishing a
significant reduction in violent crimes in 2022, and maintaining a standard of
excellence through achievement of state law enforcement certification.
In 2022, MPD reported a 17
percent reduction in Part 1 crimes (violent and property crimes), and a 42
percent reduction in operator assaults. Enforcement of MARTA’s Ride With
Respect Program resulted in over 5,000 temporary or yearlong system suspensions
for violators and over 70 permanent bans.
“The most important
responsibility we have as a transit agency and our number one priority is
keeping our customers and employees safe,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO
Collie Greenwood, “To see such a dramatic reduction in violence against our
operators and a decline in overall crime on the system, along with the recent
state certification is further proof that the MARTA Police Department is one of
the top law enforcement agencies in the state.”
With
a focus on reversing attrition and holding regular career fairs, along with the
implementation of an internship program through Georgia State University, MPD
saw a reduction in its employee vacancy rate. Increased officer visibility on
trains through a concentrated overtime patrol program cleared railcars of
thousands of loiterers and sleepers and connected homeless individuals with
resources through the MARTA Hope Program.
“We were able to
add to our dedicated team of sworn officers and Field Protective Specialists in
the past year and that has allowed us to put more people in more places,” said
MARTA Police Chief Scott Kreher. “From our uniformed, K-9, and more visible
officers, to those in plain clothes or working undercover, rest assured, there
is a MARTA police presence systemwide. I am proud of the women and men of the
MARTA Police Department who continue to show their professionalism and
dedication to duty by reducing crime, while also ensuring our employees and
customers stay safe and feel safe.”
MPD also
partners with fellow law enforcement agencies to provide additional officer
visibility and security to the MARTA system and surrounding communities. MPD’s
Central Precinct partnered with the Atlanta Police Department and Georgia State
University law enforcement on a joint crime suppression detail. Last year, they
responded to 2,864 calls and made 91 arrests. A similar detail consisting of
MARTA and Atlanta bicycle officers patrolled the Lindbergh area and answered
1,338 calls for service and made 160 arrests.
MPD recently achieved state
law enforcement certification, a complex process established to ensure agencies
are held to the highest standards of ethics and safety and are compliant with
the law and current policing procedures.
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