Long Beach police will no longer assign officers to A (Blue) Line trains and the city’s eight rail stations until early next year.

The city’s contract with LA Metro ends Dec. 30 and Long Beach will not seek a new one, although city officials have said they may agree to extend the current agreement on a monthly basis until by March 31 at the latest.

Once the contract is complete, Long Beach officers will continue to respond to emergency calls to Metro trains and stations.

Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson said the City Council unanimously agreed to the transition in August while city officials worked on budget recommendations.

The move will allow Long Beach to reinstate nine officers, two sergeants and a lieutenant into traditional police roles, which can be difficult to fill as police departments struggle to find qualified candidates to become officers. The officers could fill positions involving neighborhood safety and traffic control, the mayor said.

“This allows us to add more personnel to our local operations to help us prioritize the safety of our community and that’s why this is a great opportunity for us,” Richardson said. “Ultimately, we believe this is the right step to make Long Beach safer and ensure a responsible transition on the Metro line.”

He sees this as a positive step for officers, who will be able to quickly move on to new assignments.

In June 2023, Metro’s board of directors voted to approve a plan to develop a Metro police force. But creating an internal law enforcement entity is a long-term plan, so it remains unclear who will take over for Long Beach — and perhaps the Los Angeles Police Department. Angeles and the Sheriff’s Department, which patrol elsewhere on the rail system –. in the meantime. Creating a new police agency could take years.

Mayor Richardson said Long Beach would help any agency that takes over patrolling the A Line, which connects Long Beach and downtown Los Angeles.

“Ultimately, there is only a limited amount of time left for this contract opportunity,” he said. “So rather than waiting, let’s be proactive in this transition.”

Long Beach police have patrolled the A Line in the city since 2017, taking over from the Sheriff’s Department on that stretch.

It’s unclear which agency will patrol the A line and its eight stations until a permanent metro force — or another police agency — is in place.

LA Metro did not return messages seeking comment.

In a statement, the city said, “LA Metro is evaluating who will assume public safety services for Long Beach Metro trains and stations. They will provide further updates, when available.

Originally published: November 14, 2024 at 6:06 p.m. PST