Metro expands weapons detection pilot to Norwalk station
Supervisor Janice Hahn speaks at a Monday press conference at the Green Line Station in Norwalk. (Courtesy photo)
NORWALK — In a move aimed at enhancing rider safety, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn announced the launch of Phase 2 of Metro’s Weapons Detection Pilot Program on Monday morning at the Norwalk Station, the eastern terminus of the C (Green) Line.
The pilot, now active at both Norwalk Station and San Pedro Street Station on the A (Blue) Line, introduces airport-style pillar scanners designed to detect concealed weapons without slowing down passenger flow. The technology allows riders to walk between sensors that identify potential threats without requiring them to empty their pockets or remove personal items.
“You can’t take a gun or knife into a Dodger Game, a concert, or a government building, and you shouldn’t be able to bring them on Metro,” said Hahn, who also serves as Chair of the Metro Board of Directors. “Let me be clear: weapons do not belong on Metro. There is no room for compromise on that.”
The expanded pilot builds on the first phase conducted at Union Station and APU/Citrus College Station between August and December 2024, during which Metro also tested real-time video analytics capable of alerting law enforcement to visible threats. According to Metro, the scanners demonstrated 100% accuracy in detecting officers’ service weapons during the initial trial.
The current phase will rotate scanners to different stations every two months over the course of a year. Passengers flagged by the system may be asked to undergo additional screening, including searches and brief questioning by Metro security personnel.
Hahn was joined at Monday’s announcement by Metro Board Vice Chair and Whittier City Council Member Fernando Dutra, Metro Deputy CEO Sharon Gookin, and Metro Deputy Chief of System Security and Law Enforcement Robert Gummer.
“The Metro Board is committed to helping Metro explore every opportunity to make the system safer for employees and customers,” said Dutra. “Testing innovative solutions, such as weapons detection systems, seems like a logical next step.”
The Norwalk Station serves as a major hub for Southeast L.A. County commuters, including riders from Downey and the surrounding Gateway Cities. The launch marks a visible effort by Metro to address public safety concerns that have increasingly drawn attention across the transit system.
Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins emphasized that the detection pilot is part of a broader strategy. “Nothing is more important to Metro than the safety of our employees and customers,” Wiggins said. “This includes increasing our uniformed presence, ensuring that people are using Metro for transit purposes, and addressing the root causes of safety concerns like homelessness, addiction, and untreated mental health issues.”
In a February motion co-authored by Hahn and other board members including Mayor Karen Bass and Supervisors Hilda Solis and Kathryn Barger, Metro approved the expansion of the program to additional rail stations and began planning to bring the technology to Metro buses as well. A vendor has been selected for the bus pilot, with a 12-month test expected to begin later this year.