The new Regional Transportation District chief of police and emergency management highlighted rider safety at his swearing in ceremony on Tuesday morning.

Steve Martingano — who first joined the agency in 2015 and was already working as the acting chief — said he wants to add more officers and surveillance on RTD’s platforms, trains and buses in an effort to curb crime.

“Like in many urban systems, we face challenges, particularly in creating a consistent sense of security for our customers and employees,” Martingano said. “We’re not here to focus on what’s going wrong. We’re here to move forward, provide solutions and create positive change.”

In addition to increasing uniformed personnel, Martingano also noted the agency’s plan to invest in modern technologies, including real-time analytics, enhanced communication systems and “smart” surveillance, which uses sensor data and processing algorithms to help gather more information.

On April 25, the RTD reported that it had seen a 60% decrease in security-related calls at Union Station since implementing a new security strategy that involved hiring new officers and establishing consistent patrols throughout the station at all hours of the day and night.

“Month-over-month comparisons reflect similar reductions going back to early 2022 when RTD first doubled down on efforts to improve personal safety and security at the intermodal transit facility,” the agency said.

The agency had fewer than 20 full-time officers on its force in 2022, but the number has since grown to about 100, with the goal of having 150 officers by the end of the year, the transit authority said.

The change in the agency’s philosophy came amid a significant increase in criminal activity on RTD transit after the pandemic, which coincided with a similar increase in Denver. In 2022, the transit authority recorded 12,064 calls for service; in 2023, it recorded 13,938.

The agency’s previous chief, Joel Fitzgerald, who was hired in 2023, quickly began advocating for the addition of more sworn officers to combat the rising crime. Just over a year later, Fitzgerald was “terminated for cause,” according to Colorado’s Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) database.

The agency declined to say whether Fitzgerald was fired or resigned from his position, nor did the transit authority share any information about the circumstances of his departure, saying only that he was “no longer chief of police.”

Standing on a temporary stage in front of Union Station’s Track 7, Martingano said that transparency and accountability will be “central targets” of the agency, and that the RTD will be committed to openly sharing its progress and listening to feedback.

“Trust must be earned, and we intend to earn it every day we work,” Martingano said over the clanging of bells from an approaching train. “I believe that together, with more strategies, stronger partnerships and a shared vision, the RTD can be one of the safest and most welcoming transit systems in the country.”

Denver Gazette Reporters Sage Kelley and Scott Weiser contributed to this report.