A Bus Operator’s Uneasy Night Highlights Growing Safety Concerns
For veteran TriMet bus operator Patrick Coomer, a recent summer night in North Portland was one he won’t soon forget. As his route came to an end, one remaining passenger refused to exit the bus. Coomer said the man appeared intoxicated and became confrontational when asked to leave.
“How would you like to be stabbed tonight?” the rider allegedly said.
The man eventually walked away, but the encounter left Coomer deeply shaken. “It ruined me for the rest of the night,” he recalled. “Every time I leave this house, I don’t know if I’m gonna come home again. Some people think that’s too dramatic, but not from what I’ve seen.”
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Coomer’s experience echoes a broader concern among TriMet staff and riders: growing unease over safety on Portland’s public transportation system.
Portland Police Return to TriMet After Five-Year Absence
In response to increasing security concerns, TriMet has renewed its partnership with the Portland Police Bureau (PPB), marking the first time since 2020 that Portland officers will again serve in the Transit Police Division.
The new agreement adds five PPB officers and one sergeant to the unit, joining three officers from the Port of Portland Police Department and a lieutenant from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.
The transit police, which includes officers from multiple jurisdictions, patrol buses, MAX trains, and stations while responding to emergency calls and cracking down on issues such as drug use and assaults.
“Simply having a visible police presence can discourage crime before it happens and reassures TriMet’s riders,” said Transit Police Captain Matt Jordan.
At its peak, the division had 65 officers. With the latest additions, it now totals 31 law enforcement members—a modest but significant increase after years of reduced staffing.
The 2020 Withdrawal and Changing Public Attitudes
The Portland Police Bureau withdrew from the transit policing partnership in 2020, following widespread protests against police violence after George Floyd’s murder. Then-Mayor Ted Wheeler made several reforms aimed at limiting police involvement in nonviolent community issues, including public transportation.
Since then, TriMet has relied on a mix of unarmed security guards, outreach teams, and a smaller number of police officers from other agencies. But the return of Portland police signals a shift toward restoring more visible law enforcement on public transit.
Safety Statistics Show Mixed Results
While national data indicates that crime on public transit surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, local figures show a more nuanced picture. On TriMet, calls for police service dropped by nearly 50% from 2021 to 2024.
Still, public perception remains grim. A 2024 TriMet survey found that only about half of riders and non-riders felt safe using public transportation. Among those who felt unsafe, 82% cited aggressive or erratic behavior from other passengers, while many also pointed to the absence of police presence.
Homelessness, drug use, and public disorder—issues increasingly visible across Portland—have also contributed to anxiety among riders.
Riders Voice Fear and Frustration
“I carry mace with me everywhere,” said Michelle West, a Northeast Portland resident who frequently rides TriMet. “I definitely don’t feel safe.”
West described witnessing open alcohol consumption, erratic behavior, and even fights on her daily routes. “I saw two girls get into a fight the other day at a bus stop. Nobody said anything because everyone’s just used to it.”
In 2024, transit police responded to 4,387 service calls, according to department records. However, due to limited staffing, most of those calls were handled by officers from other jurisdictions rather than the transit police themselves.
“With more deputies and more officers, we hope that certain incidents can be handled faster,” Captain Jordan said.
The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, which oversees the transit police, investigated 152 violent incidents on TriMet last year—roughly 12 per month—while the system logged more than 5 million monthly rides.
Combining Law Enforcement and Technology
TriMet leaders say that restoring Portland police officers is just one part of a larger strategy to rebuild public confidence.
“Every major transit system in the country has law enforcement,” said Andrew Wilson, TriMet’s Chief Safety Officer. “But what you also need are the other tools we’ve developed—technology, communication, and visibility.”
Those tools include upgraded surveillance cameras, LED lighting, a rider safety hotline, and newly installed blue light emergency phones similar to those on college campuses.
“The combination of everything is definitely helping,” said Delisa Guerrero, a longtime TriMet rider. While she feels mostly safe, she avoids certain bus stops at night. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a fan of cops, but I do think they might be necessary on some lines,” she said.
The Union’s Call for Stronger Rule Enforcement
Despite these changes, TriMet’s union says the agency is still not doing enough. Bruce Hansen, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757, argued that TriMet needs to more strictly enforce its code of conduct, which includes fare payment, behavior standards, and prohibitions on drug use.
“TriMet allowed the system to get out of control by not enforcing code and by thinking that a uniformed guard would fix the problem,” Hansen said.
TriMet employs about 492 safety and security staff, but more than half are contracted, unarmed security guards from Allied Universal Security Services. These guards can ask riders to leave but cannot conduct fare inspections, issue citations, or ban riders.
Only about 50 TriMet-employed code enforcers—called customer safety supervisors—have the authority to enforce the code directly. TriMet spokesperson Roberta Altstadt said the agency is not hiring more code enforcers at present but is expanding support staff.
Restoring Confidence Through Visibility and Collaboration
For many TriMet operators, including Coomer, the return of police officers feels like a return to safer times.
“I used to have a cop ride a stop or two downtown and just check in—‘Hey, how’s it going?’” Coomer recalled. “The more the merrier. Just having a presence is a deterrent.”
Still, Coomer and others believe improving safety requires ongoing dialogue between TriMet leadership, employees, and passengers. “We all want to feel safe doing our jobs or taking a bus home. That shouldn’t be too much to ask.”
As Portland’s public transportation system continues to navigate issues of crime, homelessness, and public trust, the reintroduction of Portland police marks a new chapter—one that blends law enforcement, technology, and community engagement in the hope of making TriMet safer for all.
