RTD Detective Bureau set to investigate crimes with today’s official launch

Transit Police Department has established protocols with police agencies across eight counties and 40 municipalities to pursue investigations occurring on RTD property

DENVER (Oct. 15, 2025) ––Effective today, the Regional Transportation District(RTD)’s Transit Police Department (RTD-PD) Detective Bureau is fully operational and able to start investigating and prosecuting crimes. The department laid the groundwork for its internal detective bureau in January to pursue investigations that occur on RTD property across jurisdictions. Since then, the RTD-PD worked to establish bureau protocols across eight counties and 40 municipalities within RTD’s service area to formally prosecute personal crimes, involving any threat or use of force, and includes felony-level narcotics violations across the agency’s system or property.

Fully staffed for casework

The Transit Police Department also has hired three additional detectives joining Lt. Fabian Rodriguez and Detective Brian Beary. 

RTD’s Victim’s Advocate Program Specialist Julie McKinster joined the detective bureau on Sept. 2. The role is essential to ensure the Transit Police Detective Bureau complies with the Colorado Victim’s Rights Act and that victims are aware of their rights. McKinster will help customers and operators navigate the criminal justice process relating to crimes including second- and third-degree assault, limited first-degree assault, menacing, kidnapping, robbery and aggravated robbery, and unlawful sexual contact, among others.

RTD-PD Commander of Professional Services Brian Cousineau said,“The court system is daunting at times and stressful as a victim. The victim's advocate program specialist can have a direct line of communication with them and walk them through the process to help ease a difficult situation.” 

McKinster will meet with victims on the scene, conduct an assessment and, as applicable, coordinate forensic medical exams in addition to arranging relocation services or temporary shelter as needed. She will remain in contact with the individual to notify them about any upcoming court date and what to expect in court, among other information. 

Other investigations RTD’s detective bureau is equipped to undertake include, and are not limited to, thefts, trespassing, fraud and forgery, public peace and order crimes, offenses involving communications, firearms and weapons violations, and controlled substance offenses.

As head of the detective bureau unit, Lt. Fabian Rodriguez is committed to providing the same level of service for victims and investigations as can be performed at another police agency. “The most important thing, as an example, if we’re going to prosecute a first-degree assault, we have to have the capability, resources and structure to give a victim the same quality of service as another police agency. I will never take something on that we’re not ready to do until we can perform the same quality of investigations as another police department.”

Rodriguez, who was with a previous agency for 25 years, first joined the RTD-PD as a patrol sergeant which gave him key insights to how transit policing differs from agencies in municipalities. A high percentage of investigations may involve individuals who are experiencing homelessness. “Even if we have a victim who wants to press charges, they don’t have a phone or a home, and it can be challenging to locate that individual for investigative follow up such as to get them to sign a medical records release form or do a follow-up interview,” he noted.

Rodriquez anticipates that the bureau being fully operational will offset the need for outside police agencies to pursue some investigations into cases that occur on RTD property. “The agency owns small areas of property in other jurisdictions. RTD can oversee certain types of criminal investigations instead of relying on our partnerships with other agencies that may be experiencing resource constraints. There will be less calls for service on our system for outside agencies to address because most criminal investigations we encounter are ones the bureau is equipped to handle,” said Rodriguez.

One example is that RTD will be able to investigate copper wire thefts across the district rather than rely upon other agencies in specific jurisdictions. While overall copper wire thefts decreased in 2025 due in part to mitigation measures in place to deter criminal activity, incidents have occurred across the district ranging from Aurora, Thornton and Lakewood.

Property and evidence

To establish a fully operational bureau, the agency also stood up a property and evidence room to manage intake, storage and release of property and evidence in accordance with RTD-PD policy. RTD’s Evidence, Property and Records Specialist Vanessa Wyche oversaw the evidence building layout. Wyche managed key components including establishing the records management system procedure, storage lockers, security and access control. Maintaining the chain of custody and ensuring the secure storage of evidence is aided by Troy Hendricks, a retired police officer of 25 years, who joined RTD’s bureau as a records technician in June.

Investigations training

As part of today’s official launch, all RTD Transit Police officers successfully completed training provided by the detective bureau. The training focused on proper documentation and procedures for in-custody arrests across all counties where offenders may be booked.

Prior to the launch, several RTD-PD corporals took part in proactive enforcement efforts, completing arrests and processing offenders through designated detention facilities. This firsthand experience prepared them to assist patrol officers as in-custody arrests occur in the field.

These efforts also enhance the detective bureau’s ability to streamline case submissions and ensure timely criminal filings for court proceedings.

Outside agency coordination

To prepare for the bureau’s official launch, the RTD-PD command staff has been coordinating with local sheriffs’ departments within the agency’s district to use their jail operations, including following each county’s booking procedures. This includes using holding cells at detention centers for suspects while RTD-PD officers fulfill necessary documentation for casework.

The agency’s detective bureau will coordinate directly with local police agencies to use crime scene investigation capabilities. The Colorado Bureau of Investigations (CBI) will serve as a resource for the RTD-PD detective bureau to perform evidence analysis.

Police agencies within RTD’s 2,345-square-mile district were notified by the Transit Police Department on Oct. 2 about the agency’s formal launch of the detective bureau and its capabilities for filing casework, adherence to booking requirements and property and evidence operations.

The newly launched detective bureau is just one of many strategies the Transit Police Department has implemented to support a Welcoming Transit Environment for RTD customers and employees.