CapMetro Swears in Inaugural Class of Transit Police Officers
The Agency’s Transit Police Department will launch on June 16, 2025
AUSTIN, TX—Today, CapMetro welcomed the inaugural class of Transit Police Officers, including one Captain, two sergeants and nine officers, marking a major milestone in the agency’s commitment to Public Safety.
“This first class of Transit Police Officers will be the first of many, but I can say with certainty that they are ready for the task at hand.” said Transit Police Chief Eric Robins. “Each officer was carefully and thoughtfully chosen to carry out the mission and policies of the department, and I look forward to our transit community to start seeing their presence on our system.”
“Welcoming this team of new Transit Police officers has been a highly anticipated day for our agency,” said CapMetro President and CEO Dottie Watkins. “We’ve built this department thoughtfully and deliberately, and I am deeply grateful for this team who are ready to serve and keep our staff and our customers safe.”
CapMetro’s Board of Directors approved the creation of the Transit Police Department in 2021 to ensure a team of in-house officers who can address the needs of our transit system. In 2024, the agency reached a critical milestone by receiving certification from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), authorizing CapMetro to recruit and hire its own officers.
CapMetro began hiring these officers on an ongoing basis in Spring 2025, and therefore, on June 16, 2025, some officers will begin patrolling, while others will continue their training and will join the officers on patrol upon completion.
The newly sworn-in officers will focus on creating a secure transit environment through innovative people-centric policing, getting everyone safely to their destinations, and educating customers about the use and benefits of public transit. They will work closely with the two other Public Safety teams, the Community Intervention Specialists and Public Safety Ambassadors, to provide an appropriate and effective response to the needs of our transit system.
This is just the beginning of CapMetro’s Transit Police Department, and the agency anticipates the department to continue expanding over the coming years. To learn more about CapMetro’s Public Safety program, visit https://www.capmetro.org/public-safety-program.
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ABOUT CAPMETRO
CapMetro connects people, jobs, and communities by providing Central Texans with safe, high-quality, and sustainable transportation alternatives. The agency provides over 83,000 daily trips on its buses, trains, paratransit, and vanpool vehicles and serves a population of more than 1.2 million in its 543-square-mile service area. The region’s transportation leader, CapMetro has invested in transit services like its High-Frequency Network, which moves more people, more reliably. CapMetro is committed to increasing regional mobility and, through Project Connect, will transform how people travel throughout Central Texas. Visit capmetro.org for more information.