CHICAGO (WLS) — The Chicago Police Department unveiled Wednesday what it is calling its new Public Transportation Section Strategic Decision Support Center to help monitor and respond to CTA related crimes as they’re happening.
Police said the center will use technology and surveillance cameras to monitor CTA stations.
They’ll be able to spot incidents as they’re unfolding and relay information to officers responding in the field.
According to CPD’s latest numbers, there’s been a slight increase in crime on the CTA this year with 872, compared to this time last year, when there were 866 incidents.
Theft and robberies are the most common crimes with at least 382 incidents reported on CTA trains, according to police.
Just last week, a 29-year-old man was shot and serious injured on the Red Line.
Police said the victim got into a fight with a suspect, who allegedly took out a gun and shot him.
No one was taken into custody in that shooting.
This center aims to strengthen safety on the transit system and bring justice to those who are victimized.
“This is important because when crime occurs on CTA, we now get to see it in real time,” Superintendent Larry Snelling said. “Having the detection embedded gives those detectives real-time view of everything that’s happening on CTA.”
The CTA says the new center will be staffed around the clock. They will also assist suburban police departments where CTA operates.
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