State Auditor's Office to Investigate Charlotte Area Transit System

Amid serious public safety concerns, the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor (OSA) will be investigating the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS).

The investigation will focus on the public safety aspects of CATS, including but not limited to private security contracts, metrics and data used by CATS and private security for public safety purposes, and the CATS safety and security budget.

"One of the most basic duties a government owes the people is public safety," said State Auditor Dave Boliek. "The recent lawlessness and violence that have taken place on Charlotte's public transportation raise serious questions about the security measures in place. We will investigate CATS and examine its public safety contracts and operations."

Charlotte has faced a string of violent incidents recently on public transportation. In March, a 64-year-old veteran was attacked on a CATS bus, and according to his family, he became paralyzed from the neck down as a result of the attack. Months later, in August, a 57-year-old veteran was hospitalized after being attacked by multiple people on a CATS bus. Just days after that, a repeat offender who had previously been in prison for robbery with a deadly weapon stabbed and killed a woman on Charlotte's light rail.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, Metropolitan Transit Commission leadership, and CATS leadership have been notified of the investigation, which will begin immediately. Additionally, OSA's Special Report on the City of Charlotte's payment to the chief of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department will be released this week.