CTA ends unarmed guard contract, redirects money to officers ‘better equipped’ to keep riders safe

The Chicago Transit Authority has ended a multi-million dollar contract that paid for hundreds of unarmed security guards, saying it is redirecting those funds to officers and other trained professionals “better equipped” to keep riders safe.The cuts to private security were made suddenly on Friday evening, according to Monterrey Security, which got word from CTA that roughly 250 full-time guards working on bus and rail systems should stop working that night.It was a surprise to the company, which says the CTA had signed a one-year renewal to its contract three weeks earlier.But the CTA claimed, under the contract, it had the authority to cancel the agreement because no funding was budgeted, according to a letter the CTA sent to Monterrey Security on Friday.A spokesperson for Service Employees International Union Local 1 said it represents 159 of Monterrey guards who lost work. The rest worked for subcontractors Kates Detective & Security Agency and Rush Solutions, according to Monterrey Security spokesperson Steve Patterson.City records show the CTA began a $44 million, three-year contract with Monterrey Security in 2022, with two one-year options to renew.In a statement, CTA did not address Monterrey Security’s claim that the agency exited the contract early after signing on for its second renewal.”The CTA is strategically strengthening system security by expanding police presence, K-9 units, and crisis response initiatives,” the CTA said. “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…

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