New RTD chief vows to rebuild trust in wake of Union Station shooting
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Acting RTD Police Chief Steve Martingano (right) shakes hands with former FBI director Christopher Wray in an undated photo. Photo: Courtesy of RTD
The Regional Transportation District's incoming police chief Steve Martingano knows how you feel about the transit agency.
The big picture: Martingano, who took over as acting co-chief last July, told Axios Denver in a Thursday interview he's committed to reversing the public perception vexing RTD's buses and train lines.
Why it matters: Reinforcing community safety is a critical step in regaining people's trust and improving ridership for transit services spanning eight metro Denver counties.
Yes, but: Denver Union Station — where Martingano is scheduled to be sworn in this month — offers a prominent and tragic recent example of the transit agency's woes.
The latest: A woman shot in the neck near an escalator at Denver Union Station on Monday remains in critical condition, Denver police said Thursday.
- Police arrested 19-year-old Jakiem Whitham on Tuesday on suspicion of attempted first-degree murder after police said video surveillance helped identify him.
- Whitham faces additional potential charges; police believe he knew the victim.
- Martingano called the incident "isolated," though he lauded RTD officers' quick response.
Context: The historic and recently renovated site has been plagued with security issues over the past five years, stemming from drug use and surging crime.
- While it's been nicknamed "Denver's living room," officials have rejected its place as a hangout for the unhoused.
What they're saying: "That's really the message we're trying to get out, is we are very safe," Martingano, who has 32 years in law enforcement, tells us.
Zoom in: Since taking the acting role, Martingano has overseen a four-step action plan he credits with improving overall RTD safety.
- This includes ensuring officers patrol on foot and are visible, encouraging people to follow its code of conduct, beefing up fare enforcement, and using its nearly 12,000 cameras to coordinate safety responses.
By the numbers: Security-related calls dropped by nearly 60% at Denver Union Station between 2022 and 2025, the agency said in a statement last month. Overall, RTD reported a 52% drop in security calls between February 2024 and February 2025.
Between the lines: Martingano will replace former chief Joel Fitzgerald, who was fired last September due to ethical violations.
- Fitzgerald wasn't the only RTD cop to call it a day: Glynell Horn Jr. left the agency in March, citing a poor work environment.
Flashback: Martingano arrived at RTD in 2015, when the agency had just four other police officers; he will now lead a department boasting 86 cops budgeted to hire up to 150 officers this year.
What's next: Martingano will be sworn in on May 13.