Report: Metro Transit Police Chief on leave for creating hostile workplace, negative interactions with women

A new report is shining some light into the suspension of Metro Transit's top police officer.

The Star Tribune is reporting an investigation into Metro Transit Police Chief Ernest Morales III began earlier this spring following multiple complaints by employees who accused Morales of creating a hostile work environment and negative interactions with women.

Morales was placed on paid administrative leave last Friday and the Met Council, which oversees Metro Transit, hasn't commented on the pending investigation. That investigation, according to the Star Tribune, includes a Minneapolis-based law firm hired by the Met Council more than eight weeks ago.

The Morales suspension came just days after giving an update about Metro Transit crime data to media members last week.

That data showed that crime is down and ridership is up for Metro Transit. After two years of a new strategy to improve conditions on busses and trains, they reported crime is now down 14 % from last year while ridership increased by 9%.

The now 56-year old Morales III spent over 30 years with the New York City Police Department before his retirement there. He came to the Twin Cities to oversee Metro Transit Police in 2023 amid a significant rise in crime in and around Metro Transit buses, trains and stations.