Humanitarian controversy engulfs Sacramento RT contractor

Sacramento Regional Transit is exploring the possibility of a new security contractor amid public outcry about the current one’s humanitarian record.

G4S Security Solutions provides RT with approximately 90 security guards for its trains and platforms, at an annual cost of $3 million to $4 million, according to Sacramento Police Capt. Norm Leong, who manages RT security. That’s cheaper than RT expanding its own unionized force, Leong says. The embattled transit agency entered 2016 facing a $3.2 million operating shortfall.

But the global security firm has accrued numerous allegations of violating human rights at its for-profit prisons and migrant detention centers in South Africa, Palestine, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Dozens of groups—including the Democratic Party of Sacramento County and the local chapter of Amnesty International—have petitioned RT to cut ties. The University of California divested itself from G4S following a similar public campaign.

“It’s very simple,” said Farrah Shields, one of several members of the public to criticize G4S at the February 22 board of directors meeting. “G4S abuses human rights. You guys send our tax dollars to a company that abuses human rights. Don’t do it anymore.”

G4S’s contract with RT is up for a one-year renewal in June. RT Director Jay Schenirer says their legal counsel is reviewing whether human rights records can be considered when looking at potential contractors. A progress report is expected at the March 14 board meeting.

“What I want to do is let our legal counsel provide some potential parameters for us,” said Schenirer, who also serves on the Sacramento City Council. “There’s all kinds of potential liabilities as you get into something like this.”

Leong says exploratory discussions have begun within RT about what a bid process for a new security contractor might entail.

RT guards employed by G4S don’t have the same authority as unionized transit fare inspectors, who can issue citations, or contracted law enforcement personnel, who can make arrests. But they’re the largest and most visible part of RT’s security apparatus.

Leong isn’t eager to change that right now. “As the manager of our security force, I’m reluctant to start fresh with a company when we have so much to do to get ready for our security with an arena coming,” he said.