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Los Angeles Public Transit Police Insignia - Badges
The first public transit police were created in 1958 with the creation of the first Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority. Between then and
now, the transit police have used at least seven different variations of uniform badges.
Series One
The Series Ones were designed for the newly created Special Agents Department for the LAMTA in the 1950's. Prior to the LAMTA days, the
special agents for both PERY/ MCL and LARY/ LATL carried LASO Sheriff's Stars and were sworn peace officers, authorized by the LASO.
These peace officer powers were revoked county wide by the LASO by the early 1960's. For this reason, the LAMTA's Special Agents had
their own badges made. Toward the tail end of the LAMTA days, the LAMTA moved to change the name of the Special Agents Department to
the MTA Police Department.
Series Two
When the LAMTA was reorganized into the SCRTD in 1964, the special agents reverted to a Special Agents Department, due likely to creation
of POST and specific requirements for peace officers in the state. With this, the RTD's special agents essentially lost their prior status as
policemen. Frustrated and forced to work uniforms instead of plainclothes, this was to be the start of a long, bad era for the special agents,
which wouldn't make a real turnaround for at least a decade. The badges still carried the name POLICE, but this was to be short lived,
because by the late 1960's, this would be deleted from their badges (Series Threes).
Series Three
By approximately 1968, the word POLICE was dropped from the badges, likely due to the reasons mentioned above. Instead, the Special
Agents Department reverted to a more simple design, simply saying "SPECIAL AGENT" along with the SCRTD's seal. What did truly made
these badges stand out from predecessors was the fact that these were made from precious metals. Special agent badges were made from
actual gold and silver and were a source of pride to the special agents and security guards that wore them. During the transition to SCRTD
Transit Public Safety, when the special agents and security guards were sent to the Rio Hondo Police Academy, they continued to wear these
on their uniforms.
Series Four
In 1976, SCRTD moved to have it's own in-house police force and the SCRTD Transit Public Safety Department was created. Upon
graduation from the Rio Hondo police academy, the former security guards and special agents traded badges and received these new
versions.
Series Five
By 1980, the Department had matured and made the transition to being the RTD Transit Police. A high profile arrest by RTD officers of a
drug dealer resulted in asset forfeiture funding, which was used in 1989 to transition to the newer, oval style badges for the RTD Transit
Police.
Series Six
As mentioned above, the Department went to this style of badges as a reward for the hard work by the officers and as a move to further
professionalize the appearance of the Department and its officers. The oval style design was unique for the Department and gave the officers
a more professional image.
Series Seven
In 1993, the SCRTD was merged with the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission to form the Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority. The Department continued with the prior oval design of the Series Six, but with the new and updated MTA Metro M.
The Department's badges and patches reflected this change, and these were the last versions of insignia worn through 1997.
The first public transit police were created in 1958 with the creation of the first Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority. Between then and
now, the transit police have used at least seven different variations of uniform badges.
Series One
The Series Ones were designed for the newly created Special Agents Department for the LAMTA in the 1950's. Prior to the LAMTA days, the
special agents for both PERY/ MCL and LARY/ LATL carried LASO Sheriff's Stars and were sworn peace officers, authorized by the LASO.
These peace officer powers were revoked county wide by the LASO by the early 1960's. For this reason, the LAMTA's Special Agents had
their own badges made. Toward the tail end of the LAMTA days, the LAMTA moved to change the name of the Special Agents Department to
the MTA Police Department.
Series Two
When the LAMTA was reorganized into the SCRTD in 1964, the special agents reverted to a Special Agents Department, due likely to creation
of POST and specific requirements for peace officers in the state. With this, the RTD's special agents essentially lost their prior status as
policemen. Frustrated and forced to work uniforms instead of plainclothes, this was to be the start of a long, bad era for the special agents,
which wouldn't make a real turnaround for at least a decade. The badges still carried the name POLICE, but this was to be short lived,
because by the late 1960's, this would be deleted from their badges (Series Threes).
Series Three
By approximately 1968, the word POLICE was dropped from the badges, likely due to the reasons mentioned above. Instead, the Special
Agents Department reverted to a more simple design, simply saying "SPECIAL AGENT" along with the SCRTD's seal. What did truly made
these badges stand out from predecessors was the fact that these were made from precious metals. Special agent badges were made from
actual gold and silver and were a source of pride to the special agents and security guards that wore them. During the transition to SCRTD
Transit Public Safety, when the special agents and security guards were sent to the Rio Hondo Police Academy, they continued to wear these
on their uniforms.
Series Four
In 1976, SCRTD moved to have it's own in-house police force and the SCRTD Transit Public Safety Department was created. Upon
graduation from the Rio Hondo police academy, the former security guards and special agents traded badges and received these new
versions.
Series Five
By 1980, the Department had matured and made the transition to being the RTD Transit Police. A high profile arrest by RTD officers of a
drug dealer resulted in asset forfeiture funding, which was used in 1989 to transition to the newer, oval style badges for the RTD Transit
Police.
Series Six
As mentioned above, the Department went to this style of badges as a reward for the hard work by the officers and as a move to further
professionalize the appearance of the Department and its officers. The oval style design was unique for the Department and gave the officers
a more professional image.
Series Seven
In 1993, the SCRTD was merged with the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission to form the Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority. The Department continued with the prior oval design of the Series Six, but with the new and updated MTA Metro M.
The Department's badges and patches reflected this change, and these were the last versions of insignia worn through 1997.
| Series One 1958-1964 |
| Series Two 1964-1968 |
| Series Three 1968-1976 |
| Series Four 1976-1980 |
| Series Five 1981-1989 |
| Series Six 1990-1993 |
| Series Seven 1994-1997 |
| DEDICATED TO EXCELLENCE |
| www.mtapolice.net |