PORTLAND, Ore. — As part of a joint effort to crack down on crimes committed on TriMet buses and trains, the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office has agreed to assign an additional deputy district attorney and as many as two investigators to TriMet-related cases.
TriMet and the DA's office have worked together since 1998. They recently agreed to an expanded contract that increases the number of deputy district attorneys assigned to TriMet-related crime from one to two. Another new stipulation in the expanded contract is that two investigators from the district attorney's office can be assigned to help with TriMet cases.
"These new resources, combined with our longstanding partnership, will help us prioritize the safety of our public transit system and all those who work to keep us moving," Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt said in a statement.
From 2020 to 2023, TriMet said it doubled its budget dedicated to improving safety on trains and buses. TriMet also passed an ordinance in 2022 that expands the number of crimes and behaviors that can get a rider banned from transit.
Currently, TriMet has 315 unarmed security staff, TriMet Executive Director of Safety and Security Andrew Wilson said. That's twice as much security staff that TriMet had a year ago, Wilson added.
Wilson said that transit police, TriMet security staff and the district attorney's office will work together "to keep criminals off our transit system."
“You’re going to see more presence on the system,” Wilson said.
Julian Samuels and Megan Irinaga are the two deputy district attorneys assigned to TriMet cases, with Irinaga working on misdemeanor and minor felony cases and Samuels focusing on major and minor felonies.
"The new prosecutorial resources will help streamline and speed up investigations, while simultaneously freeing up transit police officers to focus more time in the community and helping to prevent future crimes," said Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell.
During a Tuesday news conference, O'Donnell announced she added a sergeant and plans to add two more deputies under TriMet's transit police force. Currently, TriMet has only 18 of a budgeted 65 transit police force positions filled.
“It is our hope that transit police will continue to grow” O'Donnell said. “These resources will help streamline investigations. While also freeing up our transit police officers to be more visible on our transit systems and around our transit locations.”
The $2.08 million agreement between TriMet and Multnomah County lasts through June 30, 2025.