Jump in Crime Spurs OCTA to Weigh Use of Deputies : Transportation: Armed officers patrolling transit terminals may replace private security forces now in use.

Prompted by reports of vandalism and crimes involving bus passengers, Orange County transportation officials moved closer Monday to hiring Sheriff’s Department deputies to patrol public transit terminals.

“There is just a need for a stronger professional presence,” said Joanne Curran, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) spokeswoman. “Sheriff’s (deputies) are already seen at the John Wayne Airport.”

OCTA officials said the need for a more organized security force arises from significant increases in criminal incidents on buses and in terminals during the past five years.

For example, in 1987 there were 448 bus or terminal-related incidents, according to figures released by the OCTA. By 1990, that total had escalated to 1,046 and included 150 felony crimes involving assaults and battery.

OCTA board members are expected to make a final decision by July 1 that would have all 11 private security officers replaced by sheriff’s personnel by the beginning of next year.

Although there was a drop last year in reports of felonies and other crimes by about one-third, officials said concern remains for the public’s safety at bus terminals.

Most of the criminal offenses occur at the busier terminals where there is a need to stay open longer.

“Some of the terminals such as those at Fullerton and Santa Ana are open from 3 a.m. to midnight,” Curran said. “They’re open and people can just walk in and out freely and that is where most of the crimes occur.”

Curran also said there are specific safety concerns related to the parking areas outside the terminal buildings.

Last year’s drop in crime reports is being attributed to a program developed by Canadian transit authorities, and now taught to Orange County bus drivers, named the “Transit Ambassador” program, Curran said. The program teaches drivers how to handle confrontational situations.

Curran said the OCTA first discussed the use of sheriff’s personnel last year during OCTA’s merger with three other county transportation agencies.

Currently, there are eight safety officers employed by OCTA and 11 security police working for Lincoln Security Services Inc. whose $295,584 annual contract expires Dec. 31.

Although cost estimates for hiring deputies were not immediately available, the bill is expected to be slightly more than that for private officers. The payoff, officials said, comes in having more experienced and better equipped officers in the terminals.

“If we had to arm a private security patrol, our costs would skyrocket,” Curran said. “Sheriffs are already armed and we don’t have to go through a procedure to have them armed.”

The security officers now under contract do not carry handguns but are equipped with nunchakus , two wooden batons connected by a small chain or rope.