DENVER — The Regional Transportation District (RTD) will have two co-chiefs leading its police department while it searches for a permanent chief of police.
RTD announced Friday that Dr. Glynell Horn, Jr. and Steven Martingano will be its police department co-chiefs, sharing duties in the acting role until a permanent chief is named.
RTD General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson told staff Friday that a national search to recruit and hire the agency’s next chief of police will begin in November. RTD said a permanent chief will be named in early 2025.
Horn joined the RTD's police department in 2023 as the Deputy Chief of Patrol and Security and has two decades of law enforcement experience in the Houston area in Texas, RTD said.
Martingano was hired by RTD in 2015 after working for the New York City Police Department and other Denver area law enforcement agencies. He was named the RTD-PD Deputy Chief in 2017, RTD said.
RTD fired its previous police chief, Joel Fitzgerald, according to state records, a fact the government agency had refused to share with the public. Colorado’s Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Database, a function of the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, says Fitzgerald was “terminated for cause.”
Fitzgerald had been on an unexplained leave since early July, but RTD has refused questions from the media about Fitzgerald’s departure and declining to say if he quit or was fired.
"Acting Co-Chiefs Horn and Martingano have my full confidence and will ensure RTD continues to prioritize the personal safety and security of its employees and customers," Johnson said. "The two have more than 45 years of law enforcement experience between them, and they will continue the agency’s ongoing efforts to create a welcoming transit environment."
"I welcome the opportunity to take on the role of acting co-chief with Martingano because it further exemplifies our unity as ‘One RTD’ across the entire agency," Horn said. "As we navigate this transition together, I can confidently affirm that both our sworn and professional staff are fully dedicated to ensuring there’s a safe and welcoming environment for our employees and customers. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to contribute positively and make a meaningful difference in our community."
"As we move forward, I am excited for this opportunity and being a part of the RTD Transit Police Department’s progress," said Martingano. "The hard work and dedication of our officers and support staff showcases a high level of professionalism, and that expectation will continue as we transition to new leadership."