Metro to Demonstrate Weapon Detection System at Union Station

Prompted by high-profile violent attacks on Metro’s buses and light rails, the transit agency Wednesday will showcase its concealed-weapons detection technology as part of a pilot program launching this week at Union Station.

Metro is expected to assess the technology through December and consider whether to expand its use across other parts of the transit system. Officials say the technology will offer an “efficient, noninvasive screening method” to detect hidden threats.

Robert Gummer, Metro’s deputy chief of system security and law enforcement, will discuss details about the weapons detection technology, as well as the pilot program. Aldon Bordenave, deputy executive officer of systems security and law enforcement, and Nicholas Kappos, director of physical security, are expected to join Gummer and provide remarks.

Metro’s Board of Directors had previous discussions about implementing such technology. In late September, a passenger was fatally shot aboard a hijacked Metro bus, adding more pressure to the board to expedite the use of weapons detection systems.

At the time, L.A. County Supervisor and Metro Board Chair Janice Hahn called for a system to prevent people from carrying weapons onto buses and trains. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, who is a Metro Director, had also called for the fast-tracking of weapon detection technology.

Additionally, due the rise of attacks on bus operators, the agency implemented a plan to install security barriers on all buses. Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins previously reported that they are on track to finish by the end of December.

As of last month, about 851 of a total of 2,105 buses received the barriers, or about 40%, Wiggins said.