TriMet’s expanded agreement with the DA’s office holds criminals accountable while improving overall community safety

Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Julian Samuels plays an important role in increasing safety for TriMet riders and employees. He’s one of two deputy DA’s now working to hold people accountable for crimes committed against TriMet riders, employees or property. As a regular TriMet rider, Deputy DA Samuels understands the value TriMet’s transit service provides in connecting people with jobs and services throughout our tri-county region—and he understands the need for it to be safe. Prosecuting criminals for acts they commit on TriMet’s transit system increases safety for everyone in the communities we serve.

Longstanding partnership expands

TriMet has a long-standing intergovernmental agreement with the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office that dates back to February 1998. Since then, we have contracted with the DA’s office for the services of a single deputy district attorney to work with us to hold people responsible for crimes on our system. In August of this year, TriMet expanded that agreement with the DA’s office. In doing so, we now have a second deputy DA, Megan Irinaga, working on misdemeanor and minor felony cases for TriMet while Samuels, who has worked with TriMet since November 2022, focuses on major and minor felonies.

Dedicated prosecution unit includes deputy DAs and investigators

TriMet’s expanded agreement with the Multnomah County DA’s office also now provides for up to two investigators to assist the deputy DAs in compiling information on TriMet-related cases. This essentially creates a unit of district attorney personnel assigned to TriMet that will have a strong understanding of TriMet’s mission to provide transit service that is safe, convenient, reliable, accessible and welcoming to all. By being dedicated to TriMet cases, the deputy DAs and investigators develop a knowledge of TriMet Code, our rules for riding, as well as laws specific to transit. They work closely with our Transit Police Division, led by Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office command staff, and TriMet security staff.

 “TriMet is dedicated to the safety of our riders and employees, and our partnership with the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office enhances our daily security efforts,” TriMet Executive Director of Safety and Security Andrew Wilson said. “TriMet’s security staff and our Transit Police Division partners work together with the DA personnel assigned to TriMet to keep criminals off our transit system.”

“The new prosecutorial resources will help streamline and speed up investigations,” Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell said, “while simultaneously freeing up Transit Police officers to focus more time in the community and helping to prevent future crimes.”

“TriMet safety is critical to our community, and my office’s partnership with TriMet supports our united goal of public safety—on our city’s transit system and in the wider community,” Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt said. “These new resources, combined with our longstanding partnership, will help us prioritize the safety of our public transit system and all those who work to keep us moving.”

TriMet’s current agreement with Multnomah County is effective through June 30, 2025 at a cost of $2,080,119.

Expanding our agreement with the Multnomah County DA’s office is just one of the ways TriMet is working to increase safety and security. Learn more at trimet.org/security.