LOS ANGELES — Recruitment for the LA Metro Department of Public Safety opened on May 28, 2026, receiving 2,468 applications by June 11. The department plans to hire 630 sworn officers to replace contracted police personnel.

The Metro board voted in June 2024 to establish the force. The portal received 950 applications within 24 hours. Stephanie Wiggins, Metro CEO, stated, "We are excited to mark this important milestone as we begin this critical phase of building out Metro's own Department of Public Safety."

William Scott, former police chief, said, "I thought we would get some traction. But that was beyond our expectations — in a good way." The department aims to fully staff by 2031. Scott plans to hire 60 sworn officers by December 2026 and 60 more in the following six months.

The agency expects to deploy officers in phases, gradually replacing Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department personnel. Scott noted, "When we have our own sworn officers we get to assign them. We will have total control."

Entry-level Metro officers will receive up to $132,499 annually, while lateral officers with experience will receive up to $142,521. Entry-level Los Angeles Police Department officers earn between $86,192 and $91,224. Scott stated, "We offer something different. Transit policing is a different type of policing. It is still police work but its catered to the Metro system."