City Council to vote on increased security at Downtown bus station following concerns

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- City Councilmembers will take a close look at potentially increasing security at St. Joseph's Downtown bus station to address ongoing issues with disruptive behavior.

Monday's City Council agenda includes a one-year agreement with Missouri-based security firm Triple B Security Services, LLC, for $47,211, to allow for security during hours of operation. The deal includes options for an addition three years.

According to the city, the bus transfer center at Sixth and Angelique Streets has experienced frequent issues with non-bus riders of late, including disruptive behavior, property damage and threatening transit riders.

"The consistency of this behavior has caused discomfort and fear for paying passengers and damage to the facility. Transit Supervisors constantly monitor the transfer station and ask these people to vacate the facility. Once staff leaves, however, the violators quickly return," the ordinance reads.

The St. Joseph Police Department has responded regularly when requested, but the occurrences are too frequent and it's not reasonable to expect police personnel to permanently station a staff person at a single location.

The hope is that having a security officer present during hours of operation will deter this type of conduct and enable St. Joseph Transit to react to incidents more rapidly, as well as provide a safer environment for the patrons who wait for the bus.

News-Press NOW will update this article.