A new approach to public safety is in the works in Portland.
TriMet, the public transit agency in Portland, Oregon, recently announced a plan to redirect $1.8 million in funding from Transit Police and other sources to community-based safety programs.
TriMet also announced plans to implement a three-pronged approach to reimagine public safety:
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Conduct community-wide listening sessions to gather feedback from riders, front-line employees and community members on the best approaches to providing security on our system that is free from bias.
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Establish a panel of local and national experts to advise us on national best practices for transit security, equity and community engagement in safety and security
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Pilot new non-police response resources, such as mobile crisis intervention teams for mental and behavioral health issues.
The announcement also includes details of the agency's past efforts to address equity.
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