So getting a clear picture of safety aboard the trains remains difficult. Multiple police agencies — St. Louis County, St. Clair County and the city — patrol the trains, as do Metro public safety officers and security officers. Other law enforcement agencies can respond to incidents stemming from MetroLink in their jurisdictions. Each agency maintains its own records.

And available statistics often don’t present a complete picture. For example, LeFebvre’s homicide was not included in a tally of MetroLink crime statistics compiled by city police because it was near the MetroLink station, but not in the station or on a train.

Serious MetroLink crimes in St. Louis dropped 12 percent from last year when compared from January through October, said Lt. John Blaskiewicz, who heads the city’s MetroLink police unit. That includes a decrease in robberies from 22 to 15 during that time period.

He said Police Chief John Hayden has authorized adding an officer to the unit, bringing the total to nine. One of his current eight officers is on extended sick leave, and the chief will assign another officer to fill in.

“Our manpower is what it is,” Blaskiewicz said. “We’re making do with what we have.”