Working around the clock for safe transit
Day in and day out, RTD’s Transit Police (RTD-PD) officers work around the clock to make traveling on RTD services a safe and welcoming experience. Deliberate efforts to enhance safety and security have resulted in an approximately 30% reduction in security-related calls for 2025. For over 13 consecutive months, the agency has seen a 65% reduction in reports of narcotics-related activity. While there’s always an opportunity to improve, most RTD customers complete their travel without issues or concerns. Through July 2025, RTD received one security-related call for service for every 1,814 boardings on average.
Public transit is overall safer than driving
While driving a vehicle may bring a sense of personal safety and control in traffic, statistically, it has 10 times the death rate of using public transit. Public transportation also poses less of a risk to cyclists, pedestrians and other road users, according to the article “We Need a Reality Check on Crime, Safety and Transit” published by City Lab, on Sept. 12, 2025. Moderate increases in traveling by transit can result in larger reductions in traffic fatalities due to fewer drivers being on the road, travel at slower speeds and safer driving.
Increased customer engagement, fare checks
Since August 2024, RTD has increased fare checks on light rail vehicles by over 500%. The effort puts officers directly in contact with customers and improves the visibility of officers on vehicles and across the transit system. Officers can answer customer questions and share information about the agency’s customer code of conduct – Respect the Ride – for a welcoming and comfortable travel experience for all customers.
Addressing societal issues on transit
Unwanted behaviors and criminal activity that may impact public transit reflect broader societal issues as reported by the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP). The organization recently published a study evaluating strategies five public transit agencies nationally – including RTD – are using to address an overflow of societal issues on transit.
RTD staffs four mental health clinicians and four homeless outreach coordinators to take a proactive approach to addressing loitering or encampments at RTD stops or stations. RTD’s outreach personnel can assist individuals in connecting to needed resources available in the community.
Creating safe environments
Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) is a key approach RTD employs. CPTED entails deliberately creating an environment to deter criminal activities and enhance safety. RTD uses thousands of cameras across its system for video surveillance and has added monitors at Denver Union Station for increased surveillance. Officers can access these cameras remotely at any time.
Using technology for safety
RTD’s entire bus fleet is equipped with live look-in cameras for use in emergency situations. The cameras can be activated at any moment by a report made nto Transit Police Communications dispatch. The technology provides an immediate view into vehicles for dispatchers to see and hear incidents on a vehicle, assess a situation and determine what resources to deploy. Live look-in is available on commuter rail services and in the process of being retrofitted for all light rail vehicles, too.
The agency has also reprogrammed elevator doors at select light rail stations which deters the use of elevators for activities other than their intended purpose. The approach has decreased security-related calls for service at these locations, including narcotics-related activity.
Transit Police growth
The RTD-PD has grown to 94 Peace Officer Standards and Training officers from 19 in 2019 to support patrolling across the agency’s district spanning eight counties and 40 municipalities. Ten police recruits are currently in the police academy. Officers patrol 24/7 to support customers any time of day and operators who may change shifts in the middle of the night.
Partners in safety
RTD asks that customers be empowered to be partners in safety by downloading and using the Transit Watch mobile app which has been available for over 10 years. Customers can discretely or anonymously report unwanted activity to the agency’s RTD-PD Communications Dispatch at any time. The free app is available in English and Spanish.
Bolstering security for large events
For large-scale sporting events and concerts, the RTD-PD regularly staffs extra officers, and engages the support of contracted security officers to bolster security. The department also has four K-9 units with specialized skills to make traveling around the system safer.
Transparency is a click away
RTD encourages customers and the community to access its Security-Related Metrics webpage launched earlier this year which provides a transparent look at reports of security-related calls for service going back to 2022. The webpage also has a breakdown of customer reports made via the Transit Watch app going back to January 2023. RTD updates the webpage monthly.
For a comprehensive look at the many tactics the RTD-PD is using to support a welcoming transit experience, visit the Safety and Security page.