Metro appointed a new police chief Thursday, two weeks after the transit agency reported a rising crime rate in the Metro system.
Michael Taborn, a 55-year-old former Metro Transit Police captain, has spent the past five years as director of the Office of Transit Safety and Security with the Federal Transit Administration.
Before that, he spent 28 years with the Metro police.
“Having been here when the first trains rolled out and now coming back to lead the Metro Transit Police completes a circle for me. I understand this police department and I understand the mission of Metro,” said Taborn, who will earn $160,000 a year. “We have a responsibility to provide safe, reliable transportation to our patrons and our employees.”
Metro officials said this month that riders reported 414 robberies in 2007, a 19 percent jump from 2006.
Assaults on Metrobus drivers have risen every year for the last five years, reaching 84 during 2007, agency numbers show. Several of those incidents involved knives, and one involved a gun.
The police chief position has been vacant for several months as agency officials have searched for a replacement for former Chief Polly Hanson, who was promoted to assistant general manager of safety and security for Metro last year.
Taborn will be the agency’s fifth police chief and will step into his role March 10.
