The Regional Transportation District’s police officers will start working some areas overnight for 24/7 coverage beginning on May 5, the transit agency announced Monday.

Officials stated in a news release that an increase in the hours that police will patrol is aimed at improving safety and security for RTD employees and customers, including those who use the buses or trains beyond regular business hours.

RTD’s police officers currently work 5 a.m.-3 p.m. and 4 p.m.-2 a.m., according to agency spokesperson Tara Broghammer.

“The introduction of an overnight team has been a priority for RTD-PD, and it was always contingent upon our hiring success,” said Joel Fitzgerald Sr., chief of police and emergency management, in a written statement. “We needed enough staff to begin to provide the high-performance service our stakeholders expect. As we continue to grow, you’ll see us even more.”

RTD’s goal is to increase its officers to at least 119 by the end of the year.

The release stated that the overnight team will work in areas “in need of greater safety efforts for bus and rail operators,” such as at Denver Union Station as employees start their morning shifts.

Broghammer said the agency could not provide details beyond that about specific areas that would have additional patrols.

Sixty-one certified police officers currently work at the department, an increase from the 19 who worked there in August 2022. Another 19 sworn officers are expected to join after they graduate from the police academy in May, and 26 more are planning to attend the academy in July.

RTD also contracts with Allied Universal Security Services for private security and employs officers from local police agencies, Broghammer said.

The transportation district operates bus, train and paratransit services in eight counties and 40 cities, according to the news release.

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