RTD swears in Joel Fitzgerald as new transit police chief

RTD transit police has a new chief. Joel Fitzgerald took the reins as RTD's new chief of transit police and emergency management Tuesday. 

Fitzgerald was selected from a nationwide search and succeeds Robert Grado, who stepped down from the role in March, and Deputy Chief Steve Martingano, who served as interim chief since.

"I am a person of integrity, and I care about the people we serve," Fitzgerald said in a statement. "I set expectations high for interactions with people. It is important to be someone who beats crime and builds legitimacy and trust in the community."

Fitzgerald has about 30 years of experience in law enforcement and has been police chief in four cities -- Missouri City, Texas; Allentown, Pennsylvania; Fort Worth, Texas and Waterloo, Iowa.

He was fired from his job as chief in Fort Worth in 2019. As a result, he sued the city, arguing he was fired for trying to expose corruption in the city.

"Joel is a courageous leader," RTD General Manager and CEO Debra Johnson said. "He builds coalitions, he is focused on strategic planning and he has expanded community policing everywhere he has served – all elements that are important to RTD. He is committed to the betterment of the community in his approach."

While Fitzgerald was being sworn in, RTD was experiencing a disruption in service due to wires being stolen from railroad crossings. Fitzgerald faces numerous issues including drug sales at rail stops and houseless people living in stations.

"You know we just can't have people out in our community feeling that the RTD system is not the safest," said Fitzgerald.

The line to DIA was shut down between the Central Park Station and the station at the intersection of 40th Avenue and Airport Boulevard. Shuttles were busing passengers around the closed area before the A line resumed service on Tuesday afternoon. 

CBS News Colorado reached out to RTD about Fitzgerald's background and received the following response:

The General Manager and CEO retained the services of a highly regarded search firm specializing in executive law enforcement placements to conduct a nationwide search for its chief of police and emergency management. The credentials and backgrounds of all finalists, including those of Chief Joel Fitzgerald, Sr., were thoroughly assessed by the executive search firm and the agency. Chief Fitzgerald has the full confidence and support of the GM and CEO and she and members of his command staff, as well as the agency's Leadership team look forward to working collectively and cooperatively with him.