Great Scott! Metro names new chief
Big news from Metro: We’re welcoming a new leader with deep roots in LA and a national reputation for results. William “Bill” Scott has been named the first Chief of Metro’s future in-house public safety department.
Chief Scott is no stranger to Los Angeles. After spending 27 years rising through the ranks at the LAPD, he served the last eight years as San Francisco’s Chief of Police, leading bold reforms and earning national recognition for building trust and reducing crime.
Now, he’s back. This time with a big job: Standing up a new transit security department from the ground up.
What does that mean? Think uniforms, command staff, training standards, technology…you name it. All led by a seasoned public safety expert who knows LA and knows how to lead. He’ll also be in charge of coordinating security for some of the world’s biggest events happening right here in LA, like the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2027 Super Bowl and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“Real public safety is about more than enforcement. It’s about trust, transparency and working with the community,” said Metro Board Chair Janice Hahn. “Chief Scott understands that deeply.”
At Metro, we’ve been listening to riders, frontline staff and the community. The message has been clear: We need a leader who can deliver safety, fairness and accountability. We believe Chief Scott is the right leader to do it.
CEO Stephanie Wiggins put it this way: “This is a defining moment for Metro’s public safety strategy. We need someone who’s calm under pressure, emotionally intelligent and ready to lead with empathy. Chief Scott brings all of that and more.”
In San Francisco, he completed an ambitious 272-point police reform initiative, reduced use-of-force incidents, improved clearance rates and piloted smart crimefighting tools like license plate readers and drones to tackle organized theft.
“This is an incredible opportunity,” said Chief Scott. “How many people get to build a department from day one? I’m honored to be back in LA and even more honored to help Metro create something that reflects the values of this city.”
Chief Scott officially steps into his new role in June. We’re thrilled to have him on board and we look forward to working together to build a safer, more welcoming Metro system for everyone.
Stay tuned to The Source for more updates on public safety, Metro projects and how we’re moving LA forward.
