The chief of Metro Transit’s police force is on paid administrative leave from the department, according to the Metropolitan Council.

The leave for Ernest Morales III went into effect on Friday, said Terri Dresen, spokeswoman of Met Council, of which Metro Transit is a service. She said Monday she couldn’t provide information about the reason for the leave.

The Met Council announced in January 2023 that it selected Morales to lead the Metro Transit Police Department after a national search. He was previously first deputy police commissioner in Mount Vernon, N.Y. He served most of his career at the New York City Police Department.

Morales has worked to be a visible presence to the public. In a video posted Friday on Metro Transit Police Department’s social media channels, Morales highlighted crime statistics released earlier last week as part of quarterly updates. In the second quarter of this year, overall reported crime declined by 17.5 percent compared to the same time last year.

Metro Transit Police Chief Ernest Morales III listens to a rider talk about his safety concerns while riding the Green Line, the light rail train connecting downtown Minneapolis to downtown St. Paul, in St. Paul on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Morales took the helm of Metro Transit Police, a department of more than 500 officers and personnel, toward the end of February 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

“I want to make it clear that the majority of the crimes being committed are what we call quality-of-life crimes,” Morales said in the video posted Friday. “These are things like vandalism and smoking. … Alcohol, tobacco and narcotic violations are up nearly 38% — that’s because we have deliberately targeted these problems.”

He also noted the overall decrease in crime comes as ridership continues to steadily increase.

“I want to commend the men and women of the MTPD for their proactive policing and commitment to public safety,” he said in the video.

Morales was among recent applicants for the Austin, Texas, police chief job. The position went to an assistant Cincinnati police chief.

The Pioneer Press couldn’t reach Morales for comment Monday.

Related Articles

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally crashes down 28% from last year

‘Someone out there knows’: Billboards feature cases of missing Minnesotans

Eagan teen whose body was recovered after swimming in Lake Michigan ‘filled his parents with pride’

Duluth police clear downtown homeless encampment; two arrested

‘We’ve got it covered,’ local Secret Service office says as VP candidate Walz gets more security