PATT vs Metra COPS
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
PATT
This app helps railroads and contractors determine if a qualifying accident has occurred that requires post-accident alcohol and drug testing under FRA regulations. It aids in quick decision-making and protects employee privacy by preventing erroneous tests.
- Determines qualifying accidents for testing
- Aids in quick decision-making
- Ensures compliance with FRA regulations
- Protects employee privacy
- Supports post-accident testing procedures
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FRA’s 49 CFR Part 219, Control of Alcohol and Drug Use contains requirements for post-accident testing if certain conditions are met. This application is intended to aid railroads and their contractors in determining when a qualifying accident has occurred that requires Part 219 Subpart C testing. The FRA’s post-accident testing program has been the cornerstone the agency’s drug and alcohol testing efforts since 1985 and pre-dates the publication of most of the rest of Part 219 and the USDOT’s testing procedures regulation, 49 CFR Part 40. Part 219 Subpart C defines the train accident/incident thresholds that require testing. This post-accident testing helps FRA accident investigators determine whether the use of drugs and alcohol by involved railroad employees or contractors may have contributed to the cause or severity of a particular accident. The goal is that each regulated employer (railroad or contractor) is fully prepared to conduct post-accident testing if a rule-triggering event occurs; that the decision to test is made quickly after reasonable inquiry and good faith judgment by an on-site supervisor. Blood and urine collections from surviving employees/contractors must be completed within for (4) hours of the accident with the proper supplies and forms; and blood, urine, and tissue collections from fatally injured personnel must be completed as soon as practicable. In addition, this application is likewise intended to protect employees from inadvertent incursions upon their right-to-privacy represented by tests performed erroneously.
Metra COPS
Report safety and security concerns discreetly to the police with photos, videos, and text. The app ensures reports are sent even with poor signal strength and offers BOLO alerts for missing persons or persons of interest.
- Discreet reporting of safety concerns
- Send photos, videos, and text
- Location tagging for reports
- Anonymous reporting option
- Offline report storage and sending
- BOLO alerts for persons of interest
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Metra COPS: Free Safety and Security Mobile App for Riders The Metra COPS Safety and Security App offers riders a quick and discreet method for reporting safety and security concerns directly to the police. App users can send photos, videos, text descriptions, and locations of suspicious people or activities. From the home screen, users have two easy options for contacting the police: * The “Report an Issue” button allows users to send text or photos directly to the police. To ensure discretion, the camera flash is automatically disabled when photos are taken through the app. When reporting an issue, users can select locations and report categories to assist the police. Riders can also send reports anonymously if they chose. * The “Call 911” button will connect customers directly the police. The application is designed for robust operation even under conditions of poor signal strength. If you send a report from an area without cellular/Wi-Fi connectivity, it will be stored and sent when connectivity returns. The system is also designed to send text descriptions before photos so that the police can get information as quickly as possible. Additional Features: BOLO (Be On the Look Out) Alerts. BOLO Alerts on Metra COPS may display alerts from the police about specific persons of interest. For example, Metra COPS may display information about a missing person or child, such as where they were last seen. If you see a person from a BOLO, immediately call 9-1-1 and send an app report discreetly. Help keep Metra safe, "See Something, Say Something"
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: Metra COPS at 85 against PATT's 4. Metra COPS also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
PATT holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Metra COPS has 85 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on June 4, 2026 and July 27, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PATT | Metra COPS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better | 4.8 (85 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 85 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | Every 12 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 21 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Federal Railroad Administration | Northeast Ilinois Regional Commuter Rail Corporation |
Customer experience
PATT
Metra COPS
In-app purchases
PATT
No in-app purchases
Metra COPS
No in-app purchases









