In 2022, the city of Chicago signed contracts with multiple firms to provide unarmed security guards for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) rail lines.
In 2023, after the first year of a program whose details were still murky, riding the trains was still deadly.
This past January, Chicago Mayor Brandon 'Bear of Little Brains' Johnson was being quizzed about the number of violent crimes still being committed on the CTA rail lines.
While statistics said that the violent crime rate had dipped slightly, the daily reports of violence committed against the rail passengers, especially once it got dark, had riders across the city frightened to death at the thought of having to climb aboard for a trip.
How did it 'hit his ear' when even Chicago aldermen were musing openly about the wisdom of choosing to ride after dark and perhaps deciding not to do so at all, the mayor was asked. Lots of people, the mayor was told, are scared to ride the CTA.
THOSE INCIDENTS CERTAINLY PROVIDE US WITH THAT MUCH MORE MOTIVATION TO ENSURE THERE IS A HOLISTIC APPROACH
What does that argle-bargle even mean to riders terrified of being beaten, stabbed, shot (or all of the above) who have no alternative but to take the train?
It means life goes on as they trepiditiously ride the Chicago rail system and try not to watch the news or read the paper about what happened the night before.
All under the watchful, impotent eyes of the 'unarmed security guards.'
NSFW LANGUAGE
These security guards never really did anything. They just stood there and recorded everything with their phones. The only thing they were good for was being bullied and beaten up; people had no respect for them at all. https://t.co/JEQIjm1JYM pic.twitter.com/8OhCJAgzSm
— Goofies Of Chicago (@Chicago_Goofies) April 21, 2026
These security guards never really did anything. They just stood there and recorded everything with their phones. The only thing they were good for was being bullied and beaten up; people had no respect for them at all.
It takes a while...and some stabbings...and some beatings...and more stabbings...maybe a gun pulled and fired or two.
Helpful CTA employees.
2 men are charged with robbing a 17-year-old at the 63/Ashland Green Line.
— CWBChicago (@CWBChicago) March 31, 2026
During the robbery, a CTA worker asked, “Are you robbing him?”
One replied, “Yes we the f*** are!”https://t.co/G407hqqxbD
Or, like a week ago, a big old thumping by a gang of the mayor's 'stupid youths' heading home from one of their 'events' (don't call it a mob).
Nine suspects, seven of them women, are wanted for attacking a passenger on the Red Line in the Loop last week, CPD says.https://t.co/0QqbdVnD0y
— CWBChicago (@CWBChicago) April 21, 2026
They're still asking for help in finding any of the assailants a week later.
The timing of the attack seemed inauspicious, as the State's Attorney had announced last Tuesday that they were going to (finally?) begin to 'aggressively' prosecute CTA crimes with (now, here's a concept) a goal of 'preventing future ones.'
In fact, she's talking so tough that she even says, "Commit a crime, and you'll 'LIKELY' be detained."
GTFO of here with that crazy talk - this lukewarm threat is a radical departure for Chicagoland.
And doesn't sound 'holistic' at all to me.
New task force aggressively prosecuting CTA crimes with hopes to prevent future ones
With crime continuing to plague the CTA, Cook County's top prosecutor is sending a strong message: Commit a violent crime on public transportation, and you'll likely be detained.
In a rare interview, State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke tells the I-Team that a new task force is aggressively prosecuting CTA crimes with hopes of preventing future ones.
"And all you got is cameras. Where are the actual people that you all are saying are supposed to be on the train?" said Marquettia Johnson, as she made an emotional plea for more security on public transportation at the most recent CTA board meeting.
Johnson's husband, Raymond Harrison, was killed just before Christmas during an argument on the Pink Line. Violent crimes such as these continue to afflict the system, affect ridership, and led to O'Neill Burke to take action.
Poor Mrs. Johnson.
the CTA still hasn’t even sent condolences ... Homicide Before Christmas ... Raymond didn't choose to be murdered.
— SubX.News® (@SubxNews) April 9, 2026
He chose to get home to his family, and he never made it because it wasn't security on the trains to handle ...
Marquettia Johnson spoke at the CTA board meeting… pic.twitter.com/ilctdw0Q5p
He only wanted to get home.
However, a stiffer and much more persistent shift in the wind had been underway. President Trump had first threatened and then sent the National Guard to Chicago to address Chicago crime head-on, deploying them for a short stint in September. His administration then ramped up more pressure on the Bear of Little Brains over the continued violent crime in the transit system in March, using Department of Transportation oversight authority and the threat of federal funding cuts.
Blustering, bloviating Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker called it a 'sham investigation.'
The Trump administration announced Tuesday an escalation of its scrutiny and oversight of the Illinois Department of Transportation, citing a failure to do more to keep transit riders and workers in Chicago safe.
The new oversight will include a "special management inspection" and a "special directive" for IDOT, according to a news release. It was unclear exactly what that inspection would entail.
This latest move by the U.S. Department of Transportation comes after months of threats to the CTA’s federal funding if the agency didn’t do more to increase safety on the system.
On Tuesday, the Trump administration said it determined that under Gov. JB Pritzker, IDOT has "not properly leveraged its oversight authority and resources" to improve conditions on the CTA, according to the news release.
Whatever the governor's public impressions of the federal critical eye, something had to have snapped in the brain of the Johnson administration, because suddenly, there were Cook County Sheriff deputies patrolling CTA trains, augmenting the ineffective and basically worthless private 'unarmed security guards.'
CTA brings in Cook County sheriff’s police to patrol trains as it looks to appease feds
Police from the Cook County sheriff’s office will patrol the CTA as the mass transit agency tries to head off threats from the Trump administration that it must shape up on crime or risk losing millions in federal funding.
The partnership with the sheriff’s office is part of the CTA’s second attempt at a safety plan to satisfy the Federal Transit Administration, which in December issued a blistering order telling the agency to lay out a crime-fighting plan or lose up to $50 million in federal funding.
The CTA quickly announced a crime reduction plan in response to that directive, saying it was boosting the numbers of police and privately contracted K-9 security guards on the city’s buses and trains. But the feds slammed that plan as “materially deficient” and promptly rejected it.
The FTA, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, gave the CTA until the middle of March to submit a new plan.
The governor might be pissed off, but lo - the people were happy.
NSFW LANGUAGE
“Trump had to make Brandon Johnson put these people up here to make sure y'all are safe; you need to be thanking Trump.”
— Goofies Of Chicago (@Chicago_Goofies) April 14, 2026
Once again, a lot of people are happy with the sheriffs patrolling the red line because of how problematic it is. https://t.co/HPWGbvUcbW pic.twitter.com/LFI7UdHtGV
Even more amazing events were yet to come.
As of yesterday, all the 'unarmed security guards' are being laid off as the mayor's 'holistic approach' was abruptly thrown out the window in favor of putting Chicago cops back on board the CTA rail cars. The Cook County Sheriff deputies will continue to assist with enforcement and patrols, as well.
The CTA confirmed it was moving away from using private unarmed security guards and will replace them with police officers. https://t.co/F51cJZNJvK
— FOX 32 News (@fox32news) April 21, 2026
Imagine replacing unarmed, powerless 'guards' with police officers. Blows the tiny progressive, holistic mind.
The numbers spoke for themselves. The contracts with the security firms were all canceled.
..."The CTA is strategically strengthening system security by expanding police presence, K-9 units, and crisis response initiatives. Funding previously allocated to unarmed security guards will instead be directed to sworn officers, specially trained professionals and other security resources who are better equipped to help keep riders and staff safe."
A spokesperson for the private security firm Monterrey Security said the CTA told them last Friday it would no longer be funding the services of about 250 unarmed security guards. About 159 of those workers were members of SEIU’s Local 1, according to the union.
...What they're saying: One transportation expert said more police officers on the CTA is a step in the right direction.
"It’s been disappointing, you look at the investment we’ve made in transit, for the expansion, then to see more crime, the fear of crime and unwanted behavior, chase riders away," said DePaul University professor Joe Schweiterman. "The fix too slow, so we welcome news of stepped up security and hope we don’t take a step back before we take a step forward."
...Several high-profile violent incidents on the CTA have prompted increased scrutiny, including multiple robberies, stabbings, and even one instance in which a young woman was set on fire.
While overall violent crime incidents on the CTA system are down around 19% year-to-date compared to 2025, certain crimes like criminal sexual assault and aggravated battery are up so far this year (by 55.6% and 17.9% respectively), according to city data.
Chicago is hoping the new and vastly improved CTA safety plan will call off the DOT dogs.
...The CTA promised a 75% increase in police patrols on trains and buses in a safety plan submitted to the Trump Administration in March. With officers in CPD's public transit section working more hours, doubling off-duty officers patrolling the system, and Cook County Sheriff's Police officers working rail lines for 4,400 hours a month.
Agency officials said that the increase would come from an uptick in Chicago Police Department hours dedicated to CTA as well as a partnership with the Cook County Sheriff's Office.
The safety plan stipulated that these armed officers would conduct ride-along missions on bus routes with high crime rates. They would also board and inspect trains.
But what is absolutely disgusting, when you look at it, is that this is something they could have done all along - and should have.
What they had in the security guard program was simply a job corps slush fund for union members and, coupled with the notoriously lax Cook County prosecutor's office, a green light for mayhem on the rails.
Depending on the private #Security Officer firm I know for a fact that MANY are NOT ALLOWING to put their hands on TO STOP,or even lift a senior citizen who simply can't stand up from floor, etc.unless have specific health OR frisk&weapons training.Some care more about being sued
— ResoluteRenee (@ResoluteRenee) April 21, 2026
Four years of a literal 'go signal' for open predation on Chicago's hardworking residents and much-needed tourist population by the worst inhabitants of that city.
That's unforgivable...but so on-brand.
TRUMP HAD TO MAKE THEM SEND THESE PEOPLE UP HERE
As the man said so forcefully in the video with all the sheriff cars lined up, they do need to 'be thanking him.'
Yeah. They do.
They won't.
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