City of Edmonton deploys additional Transit Peace Officers to enhance transit safety

News Release

City of Edmonton deploys additional Transit Peace Officers to enhance transit safety

The City of Edmonton is expanding its uniformed safety presence across the Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) with the deployment of additional Transit Peace Officers (TPOs) in 2026. The enhanced staffing follows City Council’s direction in April 2025 to add 30 officers to support safer, more secure transit experiences for riders.

The first 15 TPOs will deploy this January, followed by a second cohort later in the year. All 30 new officers will be in service by July 2026, bringing the total number of TPOs patrolling buses, LRT and transit stations to 126.

“These new officers will make a meaningful difference for riders,” said David Jones, Chief Bylaw Enforcement Officer and Branch Manager, Community Standards. “Increasing our Transit Peace Officer presence means more proactive patrols, more opportunities for public engagement, better partnering with the EPS, and a greater ability to respond quickly when concerns arise.”

Transit Peace Officers are highly trained, uniformed professionals who patrol ETS vehicles, LRT stations and transit centres 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They support rider safety, provide assistance and promote fare compliance. TPOs have the authority to enforce municipal bylaws and provincial legislation, and can intervene in certain criminal incidents.

TPOs use handheld devices to verify proof of payment by scanning Arc cards, tickets, credit or debit cards and digital wallets. The devices confirm whether a valid fare has been paid within the 90-minute fare window.

The City’s enforcement approach follows the “4Es” model: Engage, Educate, Encourage and Enforce. This model ensures officers prioritize conversations, guidance and problem-solving before moving to enforcement actions.

The enhanced TPO complement is expected to strengthen enforcement efforts, increase proactive intervention and help reduce high-priority incidents on transit.

The City provides additional support to help keep transit spaces safe and comfortable, including Community Outreach Transit Teams (COTT), which pair TPOs with outreach workers from the Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society; and Community Safety Liaisons, who support community-led, prevention-focused efforts in transit spaces.

The City implements several security measures across the transit network, including:
24/7 Monitoring: More than 1,000 security cameras are monitored around the clock by the ETS Control Centre.
Transit Watch: Riders can connect with the Control Centre by calling or texting 780-442-4900.
Emergency phones: Blue emergency phones are located on all LRT platforms and in transit centres to connect with Control Center staff.
On-train alarms: All LRT trains are equipped with alarm buttons, strips above windows and pull handles to connect riders directly with the LRT operator, who can request additional resources if needed.
On-site assistance: Riders are encouraged to approach Transit Peace Officers, ETS staff or other uniformed personnel, such as EPS officers, for assistance, information or support.
Emergency services: Always call 911 in the event of an emergency.
For more information:
edmonton.ca/ETSSafety