Steve Martingano sworn in as RTD Chief of Police and Emergency Management
30-year law enforcement veteran will lead the agency’s growing police department
DENVER (May 13, 2025) –– The Regional Transportation District (RTD) held a swearing-in and pinning ceremony of the agency’s next Chief of Police and Emergency Management, Steve Martingano.The chief will lead a growing police department that is responsible for the personal safety and security of more than 3,000 employees and customers across a service area in eight counties and 40 municipalities.
“Chief Martingano is a principled public servant who cares deeply about his community,” Debra A. Johnson, General Manager and CEO said. “He sees police work as the calling that it is, starting his law enforcement career more than 30 years ago, and he is known and respected by the people of this region.”
Martingano joined RTD in 2015 as a commander and was promoted to deputy chief in 2017. During his time at the agency, he has worked to modernize RTD’s police deployment and response model by introducing sector policing. Martingano also pioneered the first mental health co-responder unit in transit policing, a program that was later expanded to include outreach coordinators focused on the unhoused population.
“As police chief, my top priority is reducing crime across our transit system. This means taking a proactive, preventive approach—being present, being visible, and being ready,” Martingano said. “This position is not just a title; it is a calling. It’s a commitment to serve, to protect, and to help restore confidence in the safety and integrity of our public transit system.”
RTD-PD has approximately 100 POST (Peace Officers Standards and Training)-certified officers, with a goal of expanding the department to 150 POST-certified offices by year-end. The agency is committed to creating a welcoming transit environment, which includes implementing the following near-term tactics:
- Deploying officers around the clock based on customer feedback, calls for service data, and reporting trends across RTD’s entire service area
- Coordinating security efforts with other police jurisdictions
- Increasing security presence at high-volume bus stops and rail stations during peak service times
- Developing its detective bureau to investigate criminal activities
- Implementing a live look-in camera system on all RTD buses and trains
- Expanding the customer experience elevator experience program
- Providing monthly security-related metrics and RTD-PD activity reports