RTD 交通警察 to start 24/7 patrols May 5
丹佛(2024年4月22日) ——这是 区域运输区(RTD) 交通警察 Department is moving to a 24/7 staffing model starting May 5. Overnight coverage will enhance the personal safety and security of RTD’s frontline employees and customers, including those who use the agency’s transit services outside of regular business hours.
“The introduction of an overnight team has been a priority for RTD-PD, and it was always contingent upon our hiring success,”医生说。. 老乔尔·菲茨杰拉德., Chief of Police and Emergency Management. “We needed enough staff to begin to provide the high-performance service our stakeholders expect. As we continue to grow, you’ll see us even more.”
The department currently has 61 Colorado Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST)-certified officers. An additional 19 recruits are in the police academy and will graduate in May. Another 26 recruits are projected to attend the academy in July. The agency plans to grow to a minimum of 119 officers by the end of the year as part of its efforts to create a welcoming transit environment across the district’s entire service area. RTD提供总线, 2 .铁路和辅助交通服务,342-square-mile area that spans all or part of eight counties and 40 municipalities. In 2023, RTD had approximately 65 million customer boardings.
“Being able to respond to more calls for service and process more of our own arrests makes us a force multiplier for other law enforcement agencies,菲茨杰拉德说. “This means that RTD will always be a priority and our department is viewed as a better partner. All members of the RTD-PD team will do everything in our power to ensure that customers and employees are safe on the RTD system.”
The overnight team will focus on areas in need of greater safety efforts for bus and rail operators, such as when employees begin their morning shifts at Denver Union Station. 随着RTD-PD的不断发展, the additional officers will help the department proactively address other problems on bus and rail vehicles, as well as situations at stops and stations around the district.
“We know that problems can occur at any time, so this is another step toward meeting the goal of a creating a welcoming transit environment 24/7, 一年365天,副警长格林·霍恩说, adding that an overnight presence will enhance the safety of RTD’s employees who work late and overnight shifts. “We will do everything possible to ensure our employees are safe in the work environment. 我们是一个RTD.”
In August 2022, the agency had 19 sworn officers and relied heavily on contracted security. Since that time, RTD has grown and focused its efforts and resources on building its own force. The move not only supports the personal safety, security and well-being of RTD’s employees and customers, but it also allows for evidence-based policing and the strategic deployment of officers to problematic areas.
RTD还计划增加 社区外展人员, staffing six mental health clinicians and five homeless outreach coordinators by yearend to work alongside 交通警察 officers. The outreach program has fostered agency relationships to increase customer access to resources in the RTD service area while helping to keep transit services running smoothly.
RTD asks its customers to also be partners in safety by reporting unwanted or illegal behavior or any suspicious activity that they may observe by calling the RTD-PD at 303-299-2911 or texting 303-434-9100. RTD uses operator and customer reports to strategically deploy resources, allowing RTD-PD to address chronic offenders and to identify high-need areas. In emergency situations, customers should always call 911 and immediately alert an operator.
Customers are also encouraged to report unsafe or suspicious activity via the 过境手表应用程序, which is available in English and Spanish and iOS and Android versions for download. The app allows for anonymous or discreet submissions, and there is an option to immediately call or text 交通警察 Communications, which is currently staffed 24 hours a day, 一年365天.