The Regional Transportation District Police Department officials said adding sworn officers and providing 24-hour patrols have reduced calls for service by more than half. The department currently has about 100 sworn officers and is budgeted for 150 officers by the end of 2025.

“Calls have been decreasing because RTD is deploying more officers in high-visibility areas, and they’re regularly riding buses and trains,” said RTD Acting Chief of Police and Emergency Management Steve Martingano in a release. “We’re enforcing the Customer Code of Conduct, conducting fare sweeps, and maintaining a regular presence. These efforts are making a noticeable difference for our customers and frontline employees.”

In 2024, officer-initiated activities comprised more than half of security incidents recorded by the agency, and the number of officer observations nearly doubled, which is clear evidence that growing its police force is working, said the agency.

The increase in the department’s sworn officers is a “force multiplier” across the agency’s 2,345 square-mile service area, RTD Manager of 911 Operations Michelle Lawrence said.

Starting with 19 sworn officers in August 2022, the department relied heavily on contracted security personnel who had no arrest powers until the RTD Board of Directors decided to fund a larger cadre of sworn officers after recommendations from the American Public Transportation Association and then-chief Joel Fitzgerald.

The board hired Fitzgerald as the Regional Transportation District’s new police chief in August 2023. Fitzgerald quickly began advocating for increasing the number of sworn officers to combat a rising crime problem on RTD property.

Fitzgerald was “terminated for cause” on Sept. 26, 2024, according to Colorado’s Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) database.

However, RTD refused to say whether he was fired when asked, only that he was “no longer the chief of police.” They did not give information about the circumstances surrounding his departure, including whether he resigned or was fired.

Lawrence, who oversees RTD public safety dispatchers said: “Our job is to help the public and make sure there’s a safe and welcoming transit environment for everyone.”

In 2023, RTD had approximately 65 million customer boardings. RTD logged approximately 43,000 security-related calls for service in 2024 for things like customer reports of graffiti, drug activity, noise complaints, unattended bags, and other personal safety concerns.

In January 2025, RTD says it received 2,774 security-related calls for service. During that same month, RTD had approximately five million customer boardings, which equates to approximately one security-related report for every 1,800 boardings across the entire system,” said an RTD release.

The agency’s Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design strategies include live look-in cameras on vehicles, bus operator barriers, an elevator enhancement program, and upgraded lighting to improve safety and passenger comfort.

“RTD is interwoven into the fabric of the communities it serves,” said General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson in the news release. “Whatever challenges or problems are happening near a stop or station will most certainly impact the agency’s buses and trains. Whether a customer is waiting for a connection or traveling to their destination, RTD is doubling down on its efforts to ensure their journey is seamless, comfortable, and convenient.”

The agency also provides services to unhoused individuals who often seek shelter in RTD facilities.

“In the spirit of compassion, RTD also connects individuals to community services, resources, information, and other support not offered by the transit system,” said the agency in a release. “RTD deploys a team of mental health clinicians and outreach coordinators to assist unhoused individuals and support those who may need information about community resources.”

RTD encourages customers to use the Transit Watch app and report suspicious or unwanted behavior on its vehicles and at stops and stations

The security app now has approximately 45,000 users, and it is available in English and Spanish on both Android and Apple devices. Although Transit Watch downloads continue to increase, incident reports submitted through the app have steadily declined since July 2024, reaching a low of 202 total reports last month.

The Denver Gazette’s partner 9NEWS contributed to this story.