RALEIGH — The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor released a preliminary audit report showing that the Charlotte Area Transit System, or CATS, had cut back its security force by 40% in the years leading up to the August 2025 murder of Iryna Zarutska on the city’s light rail system.
“The safety of the citizens of Charlotte needs to be first and foremost when security decisions are being made,” said State Auditor Dave Boliek. “Our report shows there has been a clear shift away from armed security in the CATS’s private security contracts.
“Further, limiting any part of a contract providing citizens with security to only firms that meet a DEI checkbox raises questions as to whether politics has taken priority over public safety. As we continue our investigation, we will be examining the decisions that went into designing, soliciting, and approving these security contracts.”…