CapMetro Establishes Transit Police Department

The Capital Metro Transportation Authority (CapMetro), Austin, TX, has established its new CapMetro Transit Police Department. Chief Eric Robins has been sworn in as the agency’s first transit police chief.

The CapMetro Board of Directors approved the creation of the department in August 2021 in response to feedback from passengers and employees. The agency engaged in extensive conversations with the community to lay the foundations for the department, which will emphasize crisis intervention, people-centric, and fair and impartial policing. The department obtained TCOLE (Texas Commission on Law Enforcement) certification in July of this year.

The police department will work closely with the agency’s Public Safety Ambassadors and Community Intervention Specialists, who identify and report safety concerns and provide specialized support for individuals experiencing homelessness and facing challenges related to mental health conditions or substance abuse.

Assistant Chief Joseph Rose and Captain Jeremy Benoit have also been sworn in. A comprehensive recruitment campaign is underway.