Gresham police increased patrols on the MAX line Wednesday following recent attacks, including two particularly brutal attacks in the last two weeks.

KGW photo

A police officer patrols a MAX train.

Mayor Shane Bemis and Police Chief Carla Piluso permanently reassigned existing officers to MAX in an effort to improve safety.

Police wouldn’t say how many officers were reassigned, but some of the officers will be in uniform and others will be undercover. They’ll be present on the trains and platforms.

In addition to citing passengers, Gresham police hope their mere presence on MAX will help deter crime.

There has been a rash of crime on and near light rail in recent weeks and months.

Most recently, a 71-year-old man was beaten unconscious with a baseball bat as he got off MAX Saturday night in Gresham.

Recent MAX attacks:

Disabled, 71-year-old man beaten with baseball bat

Hammer attack leaves teen with fractured skull

TriMet claims crime is down and a spokeswoman said earlier this week that the MAX crime problem is a matter of “perception.”

Bemis strongly disagreed.

Background: Mayor says MAX crime so bad, extra police needed

"You got to get past this perception issue, that it is just a perception. That doesn't hold water anymore, it is not a perception, it is reality,” Bemis said, “and I think…the first step to dealing with a problem is admitting you have it and I think we've finally got them to this point."

In the past few days, TriMet changed its tone and vowed it too would beef up security on the MAX line and platforms.