RTD increasing officer patrols at Union Station, downtown ahead of major events, playoff games
RTD has implemented dozens of security tactics to improve safety measures downtown and across the service area to improve safety
DENVER (April 29, 2025) –– The Regional Transportation District (RTD) is proactively increasing its Transit Police (RTD-PD) officer presence at Denver Union Station and across the agency’s downtown Denver sector. The addition of officers and contracted security personnel supports the safety and security of customers and visitors attending major events and activities. The RTD-PD regularly adds more patrols at Denver Union Station and bus stops and rail stations ahead of high-profile events, which includes today’s Nuggets playoff game. The Denver Police Department (DPD) is also increasing patrols downtown, and the RTD-PD and DPD closely collaborate to support enhanced safety for visitors and attendees at various events.
RTD has been seeing concrete results from its focus on growing the RTD-PD to almost 100 officers currently from 19 in 2022 and implementing 24/7 officer patrolling last May. The effort has resulted in a month-over-month and year-over-year decrease in security-related calls. Most of these calls came from RTD-PD officers making observations on their patrols.
RTD also has implemented dozens of tactics to improve safety and security efforts downtown and throughout the agency’s 2,345-square-mile district. These includes the addition of live look-in cameras on vehicles so that RTD police dispatchers can directly see an incident on a vehicle in real time and determine the appropriate resources to dispatch to a site. The agency has implemented Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design strategy which includes making changes to the physical environment to deter crime. Examples include the agency upgrading facilities with better lighting for customers, visitors and employees and installing TV monitors to display security camera feeds at the main entrances to the Union Station bus concourse. Customers can visit www.rtd-denver.com/yoursafety to learn more.
RTD encourages customers and visitors to report any unwanted or suspicious activity at its stops and stations or on its vehicles using the Transit Watch app. The free mobile app empowers customers to make reports discretely or anonymously and is available in English and Spanish. Transit Watch is a direct line for people to contact RTD’s Transit Police dispatchers. With the information reported, police dispatchers can use RTD’s more than 12,000 cameras to view an incident in real time and provide situational updates to responding officers. Emergency phones are also available at select rail stations and transit facilities, connecting individuals directly to RTD's dispatchers.Emergency phones are also available at select rail stations and transit facilities, connecting individuals directly to RTD's dispatchers.
Customers without smart phones may call Transit Watch directly at 303-299-2911 or text 303-434-9100. In the event of an emergency, customers should always call 911.
The agency’s efforts are supported by the City of Denver’s efforts to improve safety downtown. Earlier this month, the Downtown Denver Partnership joined Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and the Denver Police Department to announce new resources and renewed security efforts aimed at enhancing downtown Denver, which includes Union Station and the 16th Street corridor. Denver has established a new dedicated downtown police unit to address unwelcome behaviors and provide greater visibility. The 10-officer unit patrols the area on foot, bicycles, and motorcycles to assist the public.
RTD continues to encourage customers to be partners in safety by reporting any unwanted activity they see to Transit Watch while visiting and enjoying various events downtown.