Houston’s Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County and the METRO Police Department achieved a major milestone — for the first time in years, MPD is fully staffed with full-time police officers.

At a swearing-in ceremony held at METRO headquarters, MPD welcomed 11 new hires in front of friends, loved ones, and local officials.

"Chief Ban Tien has hit the ground running by ensuring MPD is fully staffed and ready to protect and serve the community," METRO Chair Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock said. "I look forward to seeing the morale and confidence of our workforce and community continue to grow."

METRONow Investing in Safety

As part of the METRONow plan, $7 million will be invested to enhance safety and security measures, such as an increased police presence throughout the METRO System.

Other safety initiatives in the METRONow plan include:

• Partnering with the City of Houston, the Houston Police Department, and other key stakeholders on Mayor Whitmire’s homeless initiative.

• Coordination efforts with other law enforcement agencies and safety programs throughout the Houston region, such as Councilmember Mario Castillo’s District H Patrol Initiative.

• Strategic hot-spot deployment.

• Dedicating METRO police patrols on board buses and trains.

• Adding text capability to the MPD main phone line.

• Utilizing drone technology.

• Installing new lighting and security fencing near rail platforms at the Northline and Wheeler Transit Centers.

• Replacing and upgrading security cameras across the system with the installation of more than 500 safety devices.

Police Force Fortified Quickly

When Chief Tien was sworn in on November 15, the MPD faced a personnel shortage. 

Tien and his team have addressed this significant turnaround in the five months he's been with METRO.

“To continue fulfilling our strategic METRONow goal in maintaining a safe, clean, reliable, and accessible system, we are looking for additional opportunities to grow our department and collaborate with our regional law enforcement partners to keep our riders safe,” Tien said. “This is just the beginning. There is much work to be done to safeguard the METRO system and the community at large, and we are working tirelessly to get the job done.”

METRO Police Officers are licensed by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. Officers regulate all aspects of the METRO system by riding buses and rail lines, policing platforms and bus shelters, patrolling area roadways and facilities, and working with other law enforcement agencies to protect the entire region.