Police staffing shortages lead to end of contract with SacRT

Sacramento Regional Transit District is ending its nearly 35-year partnership with the Sacramento Police Department, effective Saturday.On Sunday, it will begin contracting public safety services across the transit system through the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, according to SacRT.“The Sacramento Police Department has to end their contract with us because of their staffing shortage,” said Jessica Gonzalez, SacRT’s marketing communication and public information director. “We understand that it is challenging across the country for police officers… luckily the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department was able to add that additional staffing that we need to round out our police services department.”To support the changeover in agencies, SacRT said the sheriff’s office is actively hiring and training additional deputies.The new services contract includes the following enhanced safety team: 1 Lieutenant3 Sergeants9 Deputies2 Detectives8 (Armed) Sheriff Security Officers50 Transit Ambassadors70 Blue Knight Security GuardsSacRT also rolled out some safety initiatives that’ll go along with its new contract with the sheriff’s office, including an increased onboard presence. The goal would be to have a transit ambassador, security guard, or sheriff’s office staff member on every light rail vehicle. Transit ambassadors will do fare checks, customer service, and rider support.The agency will conduct surveillance across a network of more than 2,000 live cameras — monitoring services in real time, with access to city and county networks.There’s a plan to roll out an AI drone program in 2026 that will work to keep up clean and operational transit stops, tracks and bus stops and shelters.An enhanced public address/loud speaker system will allow safety staff to communicate directly with people at stations, on vehicles and at transit stops.The Alert SacRT App allows riders to report safety concerns or cleanliness issues directly to the SacRT security team.“Besides our employees, our riders are our eyes and ears on the system,” said Gonzalez. “Our alert app can discreetly take a photo or a video or a text and let us know what’s happening.”The Alert SacRT app can be downloaded here. The multi-layered safety approach and the tech enhancements SacRT is rolling out are part of a commitment to rider and employee safety, the agency said.During the transition, SacRT’s 24/7 Security Operations Center will continue to operate from the Sacramento Police Department’s Real Time Information Center.SacRT said that will ensure “seamless coordination in emergency response and maintaining a strong collaborative relationship.”See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Sacramento Regional Transit District is ending its nearly 35-year partnership with the Sacramento Police Department, effective Saturday.

On Sunday, it will begin contracting public safety services across the transit system through the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, according to SacRT.

“The Sacramento Police Department has to end their contract with us because of their staffing shortage,” said Jessica Gonzalez, SacRT’s marketing communication and public information director. “We understand that it is challenging across the country for police officers… luckily the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department was able to add that additional staffing that we need to round out our police services department.”

To support the changeover in agencies, SacRT said the sheriff’s office is actively hiring and training additional deputies.

The new services contract includes the following enhanced safety team:

1 Lieutenant3 Sergeants9 Deputies2 Detectives8 (Armed) Sheriff Security Officers50 Transit Ambassadors70 Blue Knight Security Guards

SacRT also rolled out some safety initiatives that’ll go along with its new contract with the sheriff’s office, including an increased onboard presence. The goal would be to have a transit ambassador, security guard, or sheriff’s office staff member on every light rail vehicle. Transit ambassadors will do fare checks, customer service, and rider support.

The agency will conduct surveillance across a network of more than 2,000 live cameras — monitoring services in real time, with access to city and county networks.

There’s a plan to roll out an AI drone program in 2026 that will work to keep up clean and operational transit stops, tracks and bus stops and shelters.

An enhanced public address/loud speaker system will allow safety staff to communicate directly with people at stations, on vehicles and at transit stops.

The Alert SacRT App allows riders to report safety concerns or cleanliness issues directly to the SacRT security team.

“Besides our employees, our riders are our eyes and ears on the system,” said Gonzalez. “Our alert app can discreetly take a photo or a video or a text and let us know what’s happening.”

The Alert SacRT app can be downloaded here.

The multi-layered safety approach and the tech enhancements SacRT is rolling out are part of a commitment to rider and employee safety, the agency said.

During the transition, SacRT’s 24/7 Security Operations Center will continue to operate from the Sacramento Police Department’s Real Time Information Center.

SacRT said that will ensure “seamless coordination in emergency response and maintaining a strong collaborative relationship.”

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel