RTD-Denver, Fraternal Order of Police sign labor pact

The Regional Transportation District-Denver (RTD) has signed a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 72 to represent the RTD Transit Police force.

The contract provides police officers and corporals a 5% pay raise for 2025, retroactive to Jan. 1; 4% for 2026; and 4% for 2027. The agreement also increases starting pay for academy recruits to $71,000; a sworn officer’s starting pay to over $77,000; and up to more than $110,000 for lateral officers depending on experience, RTD officials said in a press release.

RTD has 100 Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST)-certified officers on staff and a goal to employ 150 POST-certified officers by year's end. The agency is also developing a detective bureau and implementing a live look-in camera system on its rail-car fleet to enhance security.

"It’s incredibly gratifying that this inaugural process moved quickly, with police officers overwhelmingly supporting the proposal,” said Steve Martingano, RTD's acting police chief.

The bargaining process was completed in three days.