Stronger Together: METRO and Houston Police Join Forces to Patrol METRORail

METRO Police Department (MPD) and Houston Police Department (HPD) officers teamed up to patrol the METRORail Red Line for the first day of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, reinforcing their commitment to safety and collaboration across the transit system.

Each team included an officer from MPD and HPD and a fare inspector, demonstrating a united front in keeping riders safe, especially during large-scale events like the rodeo. This pilot initiative is part of the broader METRONow plan to enhance safety for all in the region.

MPD Chief Ban Tien emphasized rider safety remains his top priority. His background with HPD has been an asset for fostering deeper connections between the two agencies.

“We want to let the public know that we’re out there every day keeping them safe,” Tien said. “This is also a great opportunity to allow our officers, HPD officers and fare inspectors to communicate and outreach to the public.”

HPD Sgt. Jesus Robles echoed this sentiment, noting that the partnership enhances law enforcement's ability to deter crime.

“We know that our numbers are not high enough to be able to do everything, but when we unite our forces, when we unite efforts, we make a big difference,” Robles said. “When you have police presence, you’re always going to deter crime. You’re going to let bad guys out there know that there are police and we are watching out.” 

Longtime METRO rider Jeremiah Anglan was impressed with the increased security and expressed gratitude for METRO services.

“METRO does a good job of getting you places,” Anglan said. “You get to ride to various places. You get to experience a lot while riding and get to adventure.”