RTD-PD received FBI-LEEDA Trilogy award in 2025
Transit Police Department internally recognized team members for their impactful contributions
RTD’s Transit Police Department (RTD-PD) received an Agency Trilogy Award from the FBI-Law Enforcement Executive Development Association. The agency received the recognition based on the entire department’s command staff – lieutenants, commanders, the deputy chief and chief – completed all three courses in the Trilogy Leadership series: the Supervisor Leadership Institute, the Command Leadership Institute, and the Executive Leadership Institute.
“Throughout the year, we faced challenges that are not uncommon in policing, and through dedication and collaboration, we emerged stronger and more resilient, both as individuals and as a team,” RTD Chief of Police and Emergency Management Steve Martingano said. “I am incredibly proud of the exceptional work and meaningful contributions we have made together, with our internal stakeholders, as One RTD, as well as external collaborations. I look forward to all that we will accomplish in 2026.”
On Dec. 17, the Transit Police Department also celebrated team members’ work during 2025 and honored several colleagues with achievement awards.
Recognized by their colleagues for going above and beyond the call of duty were Dominick Castiglione, Officer of the Year; Vanessa Wyche, Civilian of the Year; Chance Fitzgerald, Corporal of the Year; Marcos Hernandez, Sergeant of the Year; Lane Hines, Public Safety Dispatcher of the Year; Mary Cruz, Lead Public Safety Dispatcher of the Year; Ken Minor, Video Investigator of the Year; and Daniel Sacco, Integrated Security Systems Administrator of the Year.
In honor of National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day on Friday, Dec. 9, RTD extends its thanks to each Transit Police member for their service and dedication.
Keep reading to learn more about each recognition.
Dominick Castiglione, Officer of the Year
“Officer Castiglione’s proactive leadership and his positive influence on both operations and personnel distinguish him as an exceptional officer.
“Example: the cleanup of a large homeless encampment that had existed on RTD property for approximately two years. The camp was located at Colfax Station (13800 E. Colfax Ave.) along the river near the light rail tracks. This complex operation presented significant public safety, health, and operational challenges. Officer Castiglione went above and beyond his assigned responsibilities by coordinating extensively with multiple internal RTD departments and numerous external partner agencies.”
Vanessa Wyche, Civilian of the Year
“Vanessa – an evidence, property, and records specialist – is being recognized for her work in developing policies and building the first evidence room to receive property and items related to criminal incidents. She also streamlined the records management system to be compliant with court case-related documents.”
Chance Fitzgerald, Corporal of the Year
“Serving as a Lead Firearms Instructor, Taser Master Instructor, Virtual Reality Instructor, Field Training Officer, a member of the review committee as a subject matter expert, and a valued member of the Honor Guard, Cpl. Fitzgerald never hesitates to adjust his shift to meet operational or training demands and eagerly steps up to serve as acting Sergeant when needed. It is because of his tireless work ethic, commitment to excellence and dedication to the success of his team that we honor him with recognition as Corporal of the Year.”
Marcos Hernandez, Sergeant of the Year
“Sgt. Hernandez’s team consistently leads the department in key performance areas, including arrests, proactive contacts, and engagement with employees. He oversees his team's daily operations and has demonstrated initiative by developing and implementing a training program for fare scanners to enhance their safety awareness, communication, and operational effectiveness.
“Under the sergeant’s leadership, the unit has set a high standard for productivity and accountability, balancing enforcement with relationship-building. Through clear communication, tactical awareness, and a collaborative approach, Sgt. Hernandez has fostered a culture of motivation and respect within his team. He encourages initiative while maintaining high expectations for conduct and performance, resulting in measurable improvements in operational effectiveness and team cohesion.”
Lane Hines, Public Safety Dispatcher of the Year
“Lane has been indispensable in keeping our CAD system running. He’s handled multiple version upgrades, sanity testing, and troubleshooting, and has worked closely with eForce to make sure issues were fixed the right way. He’s also done a huge amount of behind-the-scenes work – mapping districts and sectors, correcting more than 350 common places, and leading the rollout of the new Transit Police call sign procedure, updating over 670 units across CAD and Situator.
“Lane’s leadership on the CAD committee has been just as impressive. He takes initiative, organizes meetings, keeps everyone up to speed on changes, and is always the first to volunteer for high-priority tech projects like server migrations or version updates. When problems pop up, Lane jumps in, works with IT and vendors, and makes sure things get resolved quickly.
“On top of all that, Lane taught several Public Safety Dispatcher Academy modules, helped welcome new dispatchers, and updated training guides and PowerPoints to make sure our training materials stay accurate and useful. Lane's situational awareness and dedication to officer and community safety have been clearly illustrated through his responses during major incidents. In one notable example, during a February active shooter incident, Lane quickly pulled up surveillance footage, updated interagency partners via Metronet, and maintained real-time notes for officers in the field. His performance received direct praise from his Lead Public Safety Dispatcher and officers in the field.”
Mary Cruz, Lead Public Safety Dispatcher of the Year
“Mary approaches every shift with a positive attitude and creates an environment where team members feel heard, supported, and respected. Her reliability, openness to suggestions, and commitment to maintaining high standards make her a trusted leader within the dispatch center. Mary’s steady consistency, positive presence, and unwavering work ethic exemplify what it means to serve with excellence, making her a standout choice for Lead Public Safety Dispatcher of the Year.”
Ken Minor, Video Investigator of the Year
“Throughout his career at RTD, Ken has completed approximately 13,000 video investigations. Some of his work includes tracking down suspects on two separate occasions who were planting fake bombs on light rail vehicles, as well as locating suspects on several occasions who used RTD buses to flee bank robberies.
“Another notable case was when police in Westport, Connecticut, requested our help in finding a missing person from their jurisdiction. A 26-year-old female diagnosed with bipolar disorder and off her medication got on a flight from New York to Denver. Ken was able to find her on our surveillance cameras at Denver International Airport and track her on the commuter rail train to Union Station. With the leads Ken provided, Westport Police were able to find the female and return her safely to her home.
“Ken has been instrumental in training new video investigators, consistently sharing his knowledge and experience to help them quickly adapt and succeed in their roles. He has extensive knowledge of the original video management systems at RTD, such as Sunjin, MV-5 and 4, all the way up to our current systems with Safe Fleet and Milestone.”
Daniel Sacco, Integrated Security Systems Administrator of the Year
“Over the past year, Danny didn’t just meet expectations – he consistently exceeded them. He independently replaced nearly 1,000 cameras, completed approximately twice the expected number of new CCTV projects, and maintained outstanding ownership of his ticket queue with timely, accurate, and transparent communication. His work has had a direct and measurable impact on the reliability and effectiveness of our security systems.
“Beyond his core responsibilities, Danny stepped up as a leader. He took initiative in managing inventory, deployed video analytics in critical locations, and created custom tracking tools that significantly improved team efficiency and how progress is communicated to leadership. These efforts strengthened operational effectiveness and reinforced alignment with RTD’s mission.
“What truly sets Danny apart is that despite his high level of technical expertise, he remains open to learning and continuous growth. He consistently looks for ways to improve himself, support his teammates, and strengthen the systems we rely on every day.”