LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – RTC is taking steps to make passengers more secure when they ride the bus in Southern Nevada.
RTC has seen a stretch of violence incidents. Last year, a preschool student was accidentally shot following an altercation on a bus.
Police say a teen shot another passenger during an argument, then dropped his gun at a preschool playground while running away. Moments later, a toddler shot herself with that gun and suffered critical injuries.
Meantime, in Feb. 2023, a man died after he was stabbed 33 times during an argument on an RTC bus. Then later in May, a passenger was shot on a bus in the east valley.
In September, another man died from a stabbing during a fight on a bus in Henderson.
To help combat crime and keep riders and drivers sage, the RTC is rolling out new and enhanced safety measures.
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Starting July 1, officials say they will be working with a new security contractor. With that change, the public transit agency is adding dozens more security officers taking the number from about 250 to 300.
RTC tells us all of the officers will be armed and stationed at all transit centers. With the previous company, we’re told only about 70 percent of security officers were armed.
The officers are also said to have new security vehicles. Officials say it has reworked its own security mapping system to allow the officers to respond quicker to calls.
“We’re always concerned about security,” said Tom Atteberry, Director of Safety & Security Operations with RTC. “The more people we can put out on the street to protect the residents and drivers of Southern Nevada, we’re going to do that.”
In the last 30 days, the RTC also installed new AI cameras at its facilities. These cameras can detect if someone pulls out a firearm and it could notify security officers and area law enforcement to respond.
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