Charlotte leaders unveil new CATS security upgrades after fatal light rail stabbing

CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — In response to growing public concern and a recent state audit, Charlotte city leaders held a news conference Friday morning to announce new security enhancements across the Charlotte Area Transit System.

The announcement comes following the fatal stabbing of Iryna Zarutska aboard the CATS light rail in August and a recent preliminary report from the North Carolina State Auditor.

The audit raised questions about the city’s transit security practices, including a significant drop in armed guards despite rising contract costs.

The event was not open to the public; key city leaders, including Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, City Manager Marcus D. Jones, and Interim CATS CEO Brent Cagle, all spoke at the event.

The audit found that the number of armed security officers dropped from 68-88 in 2018 to just 39 today, even as the cost of the contract grew from $5.9 million to $18.4 million.

In a statement, CATS defended the current security contractor, Professional Security Services (PSS), saying the company has helped double total security staffing levels, from 108 to 219 personnel, although most are unarmed.

While the city said it’s unrealistic to post an officer on every vehicle, it emphasized that efforts are underway to boost visibility and enforcement system-wide, supported by 966 hours per week of off-duty Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police patrols on the Blue Line.

The recent audit also raised red flags about the city’s decision to limit part of the contract to businesses registered under Charlotte’s Business Inclusion (CBI) program, suggesting that this may have impacted security outcomes.

“The safety of the citizens of Charlotte needs to be first and foremost when security decisions are being made,” said State Auditor Dave Boliek.

In response, the city defended its inclusion goals and its vetting of PSS, which previously worked on major national campaigns and received endorsements from past contractors.

Mayor Lyles pushed back on aspects of the audit process, saying the city was not given enough time to respond to follow-up questions and called for clearer communication from the auditor’s office.

“I would respectfully request that the OSA provide reasonable deadlines for city responses and clarify the process moving forward,” Mayor Lyles wrote.

The state auditor said a final report will be released once the full investigation is complete.