The Edmonton Transit System (ETS) and Edmonton Police Services (EPS) are pleased to announce the formation of a trial Transit and Police Partnership (TAPP), a joint ETS/EPS initiative to enhance security on Edmonton’s LRT network.
TAPP will consist of ETS transit peace officers paired with EPS police officers in two-person teams. These teams will patrol Edmonton Transit property and vehicles on a day-to-day basis, assisting citizens and enhancing customer safety and security, primarily on the northern half of the LRT system.
“ETS has a long history of partnership with Edmonton Police, from joint training exercises to intelligence sharing to Community Action Teams,” said ETS Customer Safety and Security Superintendent Marvin Chick. “As Edmonton’s transit network expands across the city with new additions like the Metro Line, we continue to actively create these kinds of partnerships in order to ensure Edmonton’s transit network offers the premium experience ETS passengers expect and deserve.”
The TAPP trial project begins today and is scheduled to run from now until mid-December.
“The EPS and Edmonton Transit have entered into this trial project as a joint venture to help dissuade disorder situations from occurring on our LRT system and to make the transit system an even more enjoyable and safe form of transportation for Edmontonians,” said Staff Sgt. Gary Beaulieu, EPS Downtown Beats. “Edmonton is rapidly becoming a major, metropolitan city, whose residents are increasingly depending on public transportation to get around. An increased police presence in the LRT is a logical progression.”
TAPP will leverage the strengths of both transit peace officers and Edmonton Police officers in order to maximize on-the-ground operational efficiency. As part of the city’s guiding strategic plan, The Way Ahead, the city of Edmonton continues to explore opportunities to build stronger ties between its service institutions in order to meet citizen needs.
