CTA Canine Security Procurement Watch
Last checked: October 15, 2026. This page tracks public information about security canine (K-9) contracting at the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). It summarizes public records and press reporting, with links to each source.
I’m The Auditor. This page separates what is actually posted from what is only forecast, and every claim links to its public source.
1Status
Update, October 15, 2026
CTA’s published Buying Plan (projected contracting opportunities, Q4 2026 to Q1 2028) lists a planned “Request for Proposals for Security Guard (Unarmed) Services with Canines” for CTA’s Security Department, with a projected value of over $20,000,001, a projected contract length of 60 months, a projected advertisement quarter of 4Q 2026, a 20% DBE goal and non-federal funding. A buying plan is a forecast, not a solicitation; CTA says it “will be updated regularly.”
Where it stands
As of October 15, 2026, that RFP has not been posted. CTA’s Bonfire contract opportunities portal, where new solicitations are posted, listed no canine security opportunity among its open public opportunities when we checked. The only canine security solicitation shown in the City’s Vendor, Contract and Payment Search is the 2023 request for proposals behind the current contract, which is listed as closed. Status can change, so check Bonfire directly for the latest.
2Current contract
Source: City of Chicago Vendor, Contract and Payment Search, contract B23OP80021 (accessed October 15, 2026). The City’s database notes that “Depends Upon Requirements” contracts do not guarantee a vendor any particular amount.
3Key developments
- February 5, 2025CTA awarded the two-year canine security contract above. Block Club Chicago later described it as a nearly $90 million, two-year contract for security dog teams (Block Club Chicago, April 21, 2026).
- December 18-19, 2025In a security surge plan with the Chicago Police Department, CTA said private security canine staffing would increase from an average of 172 canine security guards per day to 188, effective December 19, 2025. The same plan raised CPD’s voluntary special employment program from an average of 77 officers per day to 120. Source: CTA press release, December 18, 2025. Also reported by CBS Chicago.
- April 2026CTA ended its contract with Monterrey Security for unarmed security guards, a separate contract from the canine contract. CTA said funds would be redirected to “sworn officers, specially trained professionals and other security resources,” and said it was “expanding police presence, K-9 units, and crisis response initiatives.” Monterrey said about 250 guards were told to stop work. Sources: Chicago Sun-Times, April 20, 2026; Chicago Tribune, April 20, 2026; CBS Chicago, April 21, 2026.
- August 2026Chicago Sun-Times, Block Club Chicago and CBS Chicago reported on a Cook County lawsuit by a nurse who says a fare evader knocked her down and broke her leg at the 95th/Dan Ryan Red Line station on July 10, 2025, and who alleges Action K-9 Security and its subcontractor First American Security failed to deter him. CTA was dismissed from the case under state immunity law. Action K-9 said it categorically denies the allegations. Sources: CBS Chicago, August 4, 2026; Block Club Chicago, August 6, 2026; Chicago Sun-Times, August 7, 2026.
- September 2, 2026ABC7 Chicago reported that the family of a man fatally stabbed on a Blue Line train on January 10, 2026 sued CTA, Monterrey Security and Action K9, alleging inadequate protection. CTA said it does not comment on pending litigation; Monterrey said its personnel were not assigned to that train or station at the time; ABC7 said Action K9 had not responded. Source: ABC7 Chicago, September 2, 2026.
- September 15, 2026ABC7 Chicago’s I-Team reported that, after a records request and an Illinois Attorney General Public Access Bureau review, CTA turned over 133 customer complaints involving Action K-9 Security since 2022. According to ABC7, a spokesperson for Action K-9 said the company believes various complaints were incorrectly attributed to it and that many if not all of those that may have been affiliated with it were unfounded after investigation. ABC7 reported that CTA said it “immediately investigates” complaints. Source: ABC7 Chicago, September 15, 2026. The Illinois Attorney General’s Binding Opinion 25-003 concerned the underlying records request.
- September 16, 2026In a follow-up, ABC7 reported experts’ questions about canine team training after a July 9, 2025 incident on the 69th Street Red Line platform, and noted that Action K-9 and CTA declined interview requests. Source: ABC7 Chicago, September 16, 2026.
4What we monitor
- CTA’s Bonfire portal, for the terms canine, K9, K-9, security dog and unarmed security with canines.
- CTA Board meeting agendas and presentations, for security and procurement items, including any action on the current contract before its listed February 2027 end date. The next regular Board meeting was rescheduled to October 27, 2026 (CTA notice).
- CTA’s Buying Plan, for changes to the timing or terms of the planned canine security RFP.
- CTA press releases and the security page on transitchicago.com.
- The City of Chicago Vendor, Contract and Payment Search, for changes to this contract or new canine security vendors.
About
Meet Michael E. Brown
President and Managing Partner, GOTB Consulting, LLC · Chicago
Michael E. Brown has 20+ years of governmental and municipal consulting and lobbying experience. He was lead contract negotiator on the $8.5B O’Hare 21 program and the $800M O’Hare rail extension, and lead lobbyist and contract negotiator on the $400M Chicago Department of Water Management lateral redevelopment. (Dollar figures are program sizes, not GOTB fees.)
He has worked with the Illinois legislature and public officials on public-private partnership (P3) policy, and has consulted to the Cook County Commission on reducing duplicative administrative offices. He is a frequent speaker at governmental and municipal functions, focuses on good government and healthier social and economic solutions for safe, successful neighborhoods, lives in Chicago, and serves on the Board of the March of Dimes.
- M.S., Psychology (1997), University of Iowa
- B.S., Psychology (1995), University of Iowa
About
Meet Richard Butler
Partner, GOTB Consulting, LLC · Chicago
Richard (Rich) Butler is a partner at GOTB Consulting and a 38-year veteran of Chicago city government. From August 2019 to February 2020 he served as First Deputy Commissioner and Chief Administrative Officer of the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), responsible for day-to-day administration and operations of O’Hare and Midway, including finance, contracts, operations, legal, human resources, workforce development, concessions, real estate and vehicle services. CDA manages the two airports with a federally funded budget of $8.5 billion. (Dollar figures are budget and program sizes, not GOTB fees.)
Before that, Rich was First Deputy Procurement Officer at the City’s Department of Procurement Services and Chief Administrative Officer of the Chicago Park District, where he oversaw procurement, audit, finance, warehousing and general administrative services on an estimated annual budget of $385 million and established district-wide policies and procedures. His City career began at the Department of Aviation as Director of Contracts Administration, and he also served as General Superintendent of the Department of Streets and Sanitation.
He completed the Chicago Accounting and Purchasing System Training Program and the City of Chicago Executive Management Program, was a key team member on the design and implementation plan for the City’s new eProcurement system, and is a member of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing and the Purchasing Management Association of Chicago. He has served on the board of the Chicago Municipal Employees Credit Union and on the US Communities board, representing the City of Chicago, and traveled to South Korea to represent Chicago in the Kotra Alliance to bridge contracting opportunities. A native of Englewood, he attended De La Salle High School.
- B.S., Northern Illinois University
This page summarizes public records and news reports as of the date shown. Allegations and complaints described here are attributed to the outlet that reported them and have not been independently established by GOTB. For official procurement information, contact CTA Procurement or use the Bonfire portal.
Fictional characters from GOTB’s original stories. Real-world facts always link to public sources.