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    1. Safety & Security

    TriMet expands agreement with Multnomah County District Attorney's office

    Oct. 17, 2023
    The expanded agreement will see a second DA official working with the agency to hold people responsible for crimes committed on the transit system.
    Related To: TriMet
    TriMet
    TriMet has added Julian Samuels to its legal team.
    TriMet has added Julian Samuels to its legal team.

    TriMet has a long-standing intergovernmental agreement with the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office that dates back to February 1998. Since then, the agency has contracted with the DA’s office for the services of a single deputy district attorney to hold people responsible for crimes on committed on the TriMet system. In August of this year, TriMet expanded that agreement with the DA’s office. In doing so, the agency now have a second deputy DA, Megan Irinaga, working on misdemeanor and minor felony cases for TriMet while Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Julian Samuels, who has worked with TriMet since November 2022, focuses on major and minor felonies.

    “The new prosecutorial resources will help streamline and speed up investigations while simultaneously freeing up police officers to focus more time in the community and helping to prevent future crimes," said Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell said.

    Dedicated prosecution unit includes deputy DAs and investigators

    TriMet’s expanded agreement with the Multnomah County DA’s office also now provides for up to two investigators to assist the deputy DAs in compiling information on TriMet-related cases. By being dedicated to TriMet cases, the deputy DAs and investigators develop a knowledge of TriMet Code, rules for riding, as well as laws specific to transit. They work closely with the gaency's transit police division, led by Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office command staff and TriMet security staff.

    “TriMet is dedicated to the safety of our riders and employees, and our partnership with the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office enhances our daily security efforts,” said TriMet Executive Director of Safety and Security Andrew Wilson. “TriMet’s security staff and our Transit Police Division partners work together with the DA personnel assigned to TriMet to keep criminals off our transit system.”

    “TriMet safety is critical to our community, and my office’s partnership with TriMet supports our united goal of public safety—on our city’s transit system and in the wider community,” said Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt. “These new resources, combined with our longstanding partnership, will help us prioritize the safety of our public transit system and all those who work to keep us moving.”

    TriMet’s current agreement with Multnomah County is effective through June 30, 2025, at a cost of $2 million.