LOS ANGELES, CA — The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) today announced that William “Bill” Scott has been selected to serve as the agency’s first Chief of Police and Emergency Management. With more than 35 years of law enforcement experience, including eight years as Chief of Police in San Francisco and 27 years with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Scott returns to the city where he built his career to lead one of the most significant public safety transitions in LA Metro’s history. The decision follows an extensive engagement process with the LA Metro Board, employees and community stakeholders to identify the qualities essential for the department’s next leader.
Scott joins Metro to lead its new public safety department, which was approved by the LA Metro Board last June as the Transit Community Public Safety Department (TCPSD), will unify and oversee all LA Metro’s safety operations under one command structure. As Chief, Scott will be responsible for building the department from the ground up, overseeing everything from command staff selection, training standards, to uniforms, technology systems, and deployment strategies.
Chief Scott will also lead LA Metro’s security coordination for many upcoming high-profile global events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 2027 Super Bowl and 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“This moment demands a leader like Chief Scott, who brings vision and integrity to this important role,” said Metro Board Chair and Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn. “He understands that real public safety is about more than enforcement, it’s about trust, transparency and working with the community to make every rider feel safe.”
Scott’s appointment comes after an extensive national search and stakeholder engagement process informed by feedback from employees, community members and public safety experts. LA Metro conducted a series of listening sessions where participants emphasized characteristics they wanted in a new chief.
“We heard the community’s call for a leader who is calm under pressure, emotionally intelligent and politically astute,” said LA Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins. “Someone who can balance enforcement with empathy and collaboration. Chief Scott brings all of that and more. His experience leading reform in San Francisco, coupled with his decades of service in our own neighborhoods with LAPD, make him uniquely qualified to deliver the safe, responsive and equitable security system our riders deserve. This is a defining moment for Metro’s public safety strategy.”
During his tenure in San Francisco, Scott was nationally recognized for his implementation of 21st Century policing reforms, completing all 272 recommendations issued by the U.S. Department of Justice. Under his leadership, San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) significantly reduced use-of-force incidents, prioritized de-escalation training and improved violent crime clearance rates well above national averages. He also introduced innovative tools like Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) cameras and drones to address organized retail theft and property crime. As chief of SFPD, he oversees safety and security on San Francisco’s Muni system, and over his tenure, crime on their transit system has decreased precipitously – just 2.3 crimes per 100,000 miles of travel in March 2025. Scott’s law enforcement philosophy is rooted in community policing, fairness and results.
“This is an incredible opportunity at this point in my career,” said Chief Scott. “How many people can say they have built a public safety operation from the very beginning? I’m honored to be back in L.A., but even more honored to have this chance to lead this next chapter for LA Metro. Together, we have an opportunity to create something that reflects the values of this region, supports our frontline teams and earns the trust of the public we serve.”
The appointment reflects LA Metro’s commitment to elevating safety and accountability while fostering community partnerships and equitable enforcement practices. The new Chief brings a strategic, solutions-oriented mindset and has a proven track record in building trust with diverse communities.
Scott will also focus on building a strong internal leadership team, strengthening relationships with local law enforcement agencies and reinforcing LA Metro’s safety culture through clear, consistent communication. Key priorities will include engagement with community-based organizations, strengthening ties with the District Attorney’s Office and ensuring fairness and transparency in enforcement policies. Chief Scott will officially assume his role June 23, 2025.
William “Bill” Scott was appointed to serve as LA Metro’s first-ever Chief of Police and Emergency Management on May 07, 2025, becoming the agency’s top public safety executive. With more than three decades of experience in law enforcement and a national reputation for reform-minded leadership, Chief Scott steps into this role as Metro expands its multilayered approach to transit safety across Los Angeles County, including a new, in-house law enforcement agency.
Prior to joining Metro, Chief Scott served as Chief of Police for the City of San Francisco beginning in 2017, following a 27-year career with the Los Angeles Police Department where he rose to the rank of Deputy Chief. His leadership in San Francisco has been widely recognized for driving public safety improvements, while also advancing a nationally watched police reform initiative.
Chief Scott led the San Francisco Police Department through a voluntary reform effort shaped by 272 recommendations from the U.S. Department of Justice, initially launched under the Obama administration. After the national reform effort was abandoned in 2017, he proactively partnered with the California Department of Justice to ensure the city’s reform work continued. The department submitted its final responses to those recommendations on April 1, 2024, with a framework in place to ensure ongoing accountability and progress.
During his tenure, Chief Scott guided the department through complex challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, heightened national scrutiny of policing following the murder of George Floyd and ongoing efforts to reduce crime while building trust. Under his leadership, violent crime in San Francisco remained well below levels seen in other major U.S. cities and clearance rates for homicides consistently exceeded national averages.
He also embraced innovation in addressing persistent public safety concerns, launching new strategies to combat car burglaries, organized retail theft and other property crimes. This included the use of modern technologies like automated license plate readers (ALPR) and drones to improve investigations and increase accountability.
As chief of SFPD, he oversees safety and security on San Francisco’s Muni system, and over his tenure, crime on their transit system has decreased precipitously – just 2.3 crimes per 100,000 miles of travel in March 2025. Fare evasion is down 30%, and 72% of customers rate their system good or excellent.
He has also led his team through major global events – like the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings, which brought 21 heads of state together for critical talks about the world economy.
Chief Scott was raised in Birmingham, Ala. and holds a degree in accounting from the University of Alabama. He is also a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police. He and his wife have three children.
About Metro
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is building the most ambitious transportation infrastructure program in the United States and is working to greatly improve mobility through its Vision 2028 Plan. Metro is the lead transportation planning and funding agency for L.A. County and carries nearly 1 million boardings daily on a fleet of 2,200 low-emission buses and seven rail lines.
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