RTD-Denver opens detective bureau to crack down on crime

The Regional Transportation District-Denver's (RTD) Transit Police Department has launched an internal detective bureau to pursue investigations for criminal activities on RTD property.

On Jan. 6, RTD promoted transit police officers Fabian Rodriguez to detective lieutenant and Brian Beary to detective on the new force, RTD officials said in a press release. A third detective, Craig Tangeman, joined the force on Jan. 21. The detective bureau is led by RTD-PD Commander Brian Cousineau.

The in-house detective bureau will enable RTD to perform investigations on thefts and “anything that affects the ability of our customers to ride safely,” said Cousineau in the press release. He added that the new bureau will also help RTD pursue prosecuting personal crimes involving threat or use of force, and felony-level narcotics violations. The bureau is working across the eight counties in RTD’s network.

By developing an internal detective bureau, agents will be able to independently file and pursue investigations on cases that occur in multiple municipalities, such as the copper wire thefts from RTD tracks last year, rather than turning each incident over to local police departments. This change enables the bureau to connect misdemeanor crimes across different counties, raising potential charges to felony-level crimes, said Cousineau.

The RTD-PD detective bureau is anticipated to be fully operational by the end of the second quarter this year. Two more detectives are expected to join the staff within the year.