Multnomah County Sheriff's Office TriMet Police Annual Report - CY2025 - Flipbook - Page 30
TriMet's Transit Police
Specialty Teams
The public safety demands of TriMetʼs network require tools and approaches that extend beyond traditional
police patrols. Specialized units within TriMetʼs Transit Police proactively disrupt criminal behavior,
investigate chronic system disruptions, and mitigate high-level security vulnerabilities.
TriMetʼs Transit Police operates three specialized Explosive Detection K-9 units, providing a vital layer of
counterterrorism and homeland security capability across all transport services. These highly trained canine
teams are indispensable for intercepting threats to critical infrastructure, routinely conducting proactive,
self-initiated sweeps of MAX trains, buses, platforms, and transit hubs. Beyond their technical ability to
detect explosive materials and investigate unattended items, these teams provide a reassuring,
high-visibility deterrent.
TriMetʼs Transit Police recognizes that urban transit platforms can be inaccessible to standard police vehicles
and difficult to patrol effectively on foot. Whenever possible, deputies and officers will deploy on bike patrol
to bridge this gap. By patrolling on bicycles, law enforcement combine fast mobility with community-facing
visibility. For example, deputies and officers on mountain bikes can quickly navigate crowded pedestrian
areas – such as downtown Portland, transit centers, and park-and-ride facilities to respond to emergency
calls.
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