Calgary's transit violence is set to rise in 2024 after last year's increase

Violent attacks on Calgary transit spiked last year, but there appears to be a promising change in trend recently.

Last year, transit violence was up 15 percent from the year before, according to Calgary Police Service data obtained by CTV News.

The beginning of 2023 was particularly brutal, including a shooting on a city bus and a stabbing on CTrain platforms, but violent crime on transit in early 2024 was down 38 percent from the same period last year.

“We're moving in the right direction,” said Scott Boyd, patrol inspector for the Calgary Police Service's south division.

Between January and March 2024, there were 55 attacks on Calgary transit, including a random attack on a Calgary teenager.

Jacob Giraldo Mejia's facial swelling is gone a month after a stranger punched him as he got off a downtown bus, but the 17-year-old still remembers the first days after the March 16 attack.

“Pretty bad. “At first, I only drank soup from a straw,” he says.

He had to have surgery on his jaw and has been forced to miss classes ever since.

The man accused of assaulting Giraldo Mejia is “known to police.”

Along with violent crime, call for duty, property crime, theft and drug-in-transit crimes are all down compared to this time last year, according to Calgary police.

Down trend

Between January and March 2023, the number of attacks on urban transit decreased by 71 compared to last year.

“Violence is what hurts people the most, isn't it? It's a huge violation of their personal space and it seems random at times,” said Supt. Boyd.

The latest drop may be due to security changes.

“We've spread officers across the city to the northeast district, downtown and the southwest district,” said Marcia Gonder, Calgary Transit's deputy security officer.

In January, Calgary Transit expanded from one district center to three and 65 more transit officers patrolling the system.

“We're seeing a 21 percent reduction in social disorder and a 64 percent reduction in the number of people sheltering in stations,” Gondek said.

“I think Calgarians will see more of our officers and see cooperation with our law enforcement officers.”

“They have increased security on the train, so for me, I feel safe now,” said Syed Rasool, a transit user.

There are also 25 other police officers who monitor transit.

“We asked them to take a proactive approach, targeting what we call high system users,” Boyd said.

New groups called SMART (Social Mental Health and Addictions Guidance Team) and Action Table are partnering with other agencies to provide rapid access to services and support for those at risk of crisis.

Giraldo Mejia is optimistic about new measures aimed at preventing violence.

“It was a drastic change for me, so I hope it doesn't happen to a lot of people,” Giraldo Mejia said.

He is ready to go back to school and eat solid food.

He worried that missing a month of his senior year could set him back, but now thinks he can graduate this spring as planned.