Ernest Morales III, the head of Metro Transit Police, has been confirmed to be on paid leave, as declared by a spokesperson on a recent Saturday. The confirmation came after the Chief was officially put on paid leave the previous Friday, this news was announced by Terri Dresen, a representative for the Metropolitan Council. Dresen, however, chose to reserve further specifics about the circumstances, abstaining from providing reasons for the fixed period of leave.
This news comes parallel to another interesting development related to Metro Transit. Recently, the transport agency reported that they witnessed a considerable drop in crimes taking place on buses and on the light-rail trains. This decrease, which was counted to be approximately 17.5%, was observed in the spring season, two years after a new safety and security plan was put into action.
Morales, the Police Chief, took to social media to openly highlight these fruitful results just before his leave began. He shared a dedicated video praising the statistics and their implications. ‘There has been an overall decrease in system-wide crime even as ridership shows a consistent upswing’, Morales noted while expressing gratitude to his team of officers and local partners.
The role of leading the Metro Transit Police Department fell onto Morales’ shoulders at the beginning of 2023, after he was selected for the position. He accepted the official responsibilities accompanying his title two months later, exhibiting readiness and optimism.
During the beginning of his term as the Metro Transit Police Chief, Morales spoke with the Star Tribune, a widely read local media outlet. His focus on the essence of policing was clear in his remarks to them. ‘Our responsibilities lie in ensuring a sense of community,’ he expressed. ‘As a public service organization, we cater to the needs of the city’s inhabitants.’
Morales’ policing journey before embarking on his role in Minnesota was rich with varied experiences. Prior to his tenure in Minnesota, he had a significant role at the Mount Vernon police department in New York, serving as the first deputy commissioner there.
However, the majority of Morales’ career was spent serving the New York City Police Department, marking significant years dedicated to maintaining the law and order of the bustling city. This broad-ranging background clearly formed the foundation of his skills with which he led the Metro Transit Police Department.