Metropolitan Transit System Chief of Police Bill Burke, 68, Passes Away

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System’s first and current Chief of Police Bill Burke passed away Monday of unknown causes. He was 68.

Burke began working with MTS in 2001, but was later promoted to director of security three years later. By 2011, he became the MTS’ first chief of police.

“Bill will be missed greatly at MTS,” said Paul Jablonski, chief executive officer of MTS, in a statement. “He brought many innovations to MTS and helped our system become one of the safest in the nation. More than that, Bill was a gentleman who earned respect from every one of his colleagues. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family.”

Burke worked as the Cook County Sheriff’s Department in Chicago, Ill., for several years as their chief of police prior to working at MTS.

During his time at the MTS, Burke worked to improve the closed-circuit TVs at trolley stations, on-board cameras on trolleys and busses, body cameras on code compliance inspectors and developed the local See Something, Say Something campaign.

Additionally, he started the TSA-trained canine teams for the MTS and developed working relationships with local law enforcement agencies.

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