Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart has expressed support for establishing a dedicated police force responsible for law enforcement on the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) system, amid ongoing efforts to address safety concerns on public transit. Since the spring, the sheriff’s office has deployed roughly 50 sworn officers daily to patrol the CTA, supplementing existing security provided by the Chicago Police Department, contracted private security, and CTA staff. This deployment came in response to federal calls for increased law enforcement presence.

Sheriff Dart leads a new law enforcement task force created under a landmark state transit funding and reform law that took effect in June. The legislation, expected to generate over $1 billion annually for public transit, also establishes the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA), which will oversee the CTA, Metra commuter rail, and Pace suburban bus service. A key mandate of Dart’s task force is to develop recommendations on policing strategies for mass transit, including proposals for implementing a sworn officer crime prevention program. The NITA board, which has yet to be seated, will ultimately decide whether to adopt these proposals.

Dart emphasized the importance of a single, accountable authority overseeing transit policing, describing the current system—which involves overlapping responsibility among multiple agencies—as fragmented. “Whatever ends up being our final plan, it has to have one person that is ultimately responsible,” he said, underscoring his view that dedicated transit law enforcement is necessary. He noted that options under consideration range from creating a newly formed transit police department to hybrid models that integrate existing agencies.

Currently, the Metra commuter rail system is the only major regional transit provider with its own police department. Dart suggested that existing Metra police officers might transition to a new NITA police force should one be formed. The specifics of leadership and coordination between such a force and current law enforcement agencies remain unsettled.

The move toward increased transit policing has attracted some criticism, particularly from transit advocates concerned about the allocation of funds. While a significant portion of new transit funding has been directed to law enforcement initiatives, these advocates argue that investments would be better spent on increasing service frequency and improving overall transit infrastructure. Supporters, including Dart and officials from the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), argue that safety remains a top priority for riders.

Data from the Chicago Police Department shows a nearly 29% decline in serious crimes on CTA lines within city limits compared to the previous year, following stepped-up security measures initiated in late 2023 and early 2024. Since late March, Dart’s office has made 225 arrests on the transit system and issued over 1,500 warnings for rule violations such as smoking, loud music, and fare evasion. Dart pointed to a dual approach targeting both serious violent offenses and quality-of-life issues, referencing the "broken-windows theory" that addressing minor crimes can help prevent more serious ones.

During a recent ride-along, sheriff’s officers were observed detaining and handcuffing a man vaping on a train platform, conducting a search before releasing him with a warning. The sheriff’s office stated that handcuffing during detentions is standard practice to ensure officer safety.

As Chicago and its transit partners move forward, the task force’s recommendations and NITA’s decisions will shape the future of policing on one of the nation’s largest public transportation systems.