Commuters in Edmonton will notice a significant shift in security presence on public transit this year. The City of Edmonton has begun replacing private security contractors with city-employed peace officers, who possess broader legal authority to enforce rules and ensure safety.
From Security Guards to Peace Officers
Chief bylaw enforcement officer David Jones announced that 15 new transit peace officers have already been deployed across the transit network as of last week. An additional 15 officers are scheduled to join the force by the end of summer 2026. This move marks a strategic transition away from the contracted services of Commissionaires Premier Security Services, which cost the city approximately $5 million annually.
The key difference lies in enforcement power. Unlike private security guards, transit peace officers under provincial law can issue tickets and fines, initiate arrests, and detain individuals when necessary. This enhanced authority is central to the city's plan to improve actual and perceived safety for all riders.
Strategic Deployment and Enhanced Patrols
While the total number of personnel on the ground will be lower than under the previous security contract, the city emphasizes a more targeted and effective approach. Peace officers will be focused on hotspots and areas with the highest volume of service calls. Once the rollout is complete, Edmonton's transit peace officer corps will total 126 members.
Patrol strategies are also being upgraded. The city is shifting from two-person teams to four-person teams, allowing for more robust and proactive patrols of LRT stations, transit centres, and vehicles. This "boots on the rails" strategy aims to provide a stronger uniformed presence, faster response times, and a more welcoming transit environment.
Partnerships and Proactive Outreach
This initiative is part of a broader safety framework. Since March of last year, transit peace officers have been working alongside the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) using a joint deployment hotspot policing strategy.
Furthermore, the Community Outreach Transit Team (COTT) continues its critical work. This program partners a transit peace officer with a Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society outreach worker. In 2025 alone, these teams connected with over 4,500 individuals, offering trauma-informed support and referrals to housing, health, and social services.
The increased enforcement presence has already shown a side benefit: a reduction in fare evasion. In 2025, officers conducted more than 300,000 fare inspections—a level not seen since 2016. Officers use scanners that can validate recent payments on Arc cards, digital wallets, and credit or debit cards, though the city assures that no personal banking information or transaction history is accessed.
The funding for the 30 new peace officer positions is being reallocated from the previous security contract. The Commissionaires will be phased out over the coming months as the new peace officer model takes full effect across Edmonton's transit system.
