Mayor Rahm Emanuel today joined Chicago Police Department (CPD) Superintendent Garry McCarthy and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Board Chairman Terry Peterson to highlight the vital role security cameras on Chicago’s transit system play in ensuring the safety of people across the city which helped police solve two major crimes this week

“I want to commend the efforts of the Chicago Police Department, the CTA and the community for working together to bring justice to our City. This is a great example of how cameras are providing an extra level of security for our residents, and serve as an additional tool for law enforcement,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel.  “The safety and security of our riders is a top priority, and we will continue working with the CTA to ensure the highest level of security and service for our transit system.”

The Mayor, Superintendent McCarthy and CTA Board Chairman Peterson spoke at the Loyola Red Line “L” station, where this week, video from recently installed CTA security cameras assisted the Police Department in solving a string of robberies. Footage from newly installed cameras at the Armitage Brown Line “L” station also aided officers this week in identifying and arresting a suspect in the murder of a woman at the Hotel Felix in River North.

“Technology and strong partnerships are instrumental to fighting crime. The strategic efforts of Chicago Police are enhanced by the presence of cameras, and we will continue to work together with our partners at CTA using these tools in order to provide the greatest level of safety on our city’s public transportation system,” said McCarthy.

The CTA announced in June that it was adding 1,500 new cameras to its existing network of 1,500 cameras across its rail system by the end of this year. As of Tuesday, 1,113 of the 1,500—almost 75 percent of the new cameras —have been installed.

“Safety is our number one concern at CTA, for our customers and our employees,” CTA President Forrest Claypool said. “These new cameras, combined with a greater and more visible police presence on the system made possible with the mayor’s support and leadership will ensure that our trains and buses are as safe as we can make them. This sends a message to would-be criminals that we’re watching you, and the CTA will not tolerate any dangerous or unlawful activity.”

From June through October 9, images pulled from CTA surveillance cameras have assisted the Chicago Police Department in the arrest of at least 37 individuals for crimes committed either on or off CTA property. Of these 37 arrests at least 19 individuals have been identified as participants in multi-offender attacks/crimes and at least nine individuals have been involved in serial offenses committed on CTA.

During the same time period, the Chicago Police Department’s Public Transit Unit has conducted 252 Rail Saturation Missions that have netted 88 arrests, 272 citations for minor offenses and written 288 contact cards.

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