34 New Transit Peace Officers Join Calgary's LRT Force
City's transit officer count reaches 212 as new graduates join ahead of Stampede and expanded 24-hour CTrain service.
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Calgary welcomed 34 new transit peace officers during a graduation ceremony Friday at the Mewata Armoury, bringing the city's total number of transit peace officers up to 212.
The timing is strategic. CTrain service will run 24 hours a day from the evening of July 2 to the morning of July 13 during the Calgary Stampede. Cory Porter, deputy chief of transit public safety, called now the "perfect time" for new officers to join the force and said the goal is to restore public confidence in the city's transit system. "Transit safety is our utmost priority, and transit is a safe alternative to make your way to your destination," he said.
Additional safety measures for Stampede include hiring additional security guards, an enhanced partnership with Calgary Police Service, additional peace officer patrols throughout the system, and officers stationed at Erlton/Stampede and Victoria Park/Stampede stations at all times.
Class valedictorian Kamrei Taylor said he is excited to serve the city. "I'm born and raised in Calgary, so I've seen how the city has grown and all the changes that have happened," he said. "And I just really wanted to contribute to the public safety of the city."
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 583 president Mike Mahar welcomed the additions, noting the union has been running short-staffed for years.
