Denver (KDVR) – The Union Station in Denver, which was known as a hot point of crime and drug use, is witnessing major safety improvements. Regional transport zone officials have decreased by more than 60 % since the launch of the “Union Station” initiative in 2022.
Just three years ago, Union Station was making thousands of calls every month to issues such as drug use, hanging, and other unwanted behavior.
“We had a lot of people who were shouting in camping, using drugs, and it was just a kind of walking,” said Patrol Proderic Fowler.
The officers said that the situation was especially worrying about seeing Union Station as a main transit center and a tourist gate.
“This is the first thing that our tourists see when the people who come to concerts, or anything else, is the first thing that we see, so we want to make sure they have an enjoyable experience,” one of the officers explained.
In response, RTD launched a comprehensive safety reform, lighting upgrading, installing more cameras and increasing the presence of the police, including 24 -hour coverage.
The officer said: “We come for a year of 24 -hour coverage.” “The officers do not like cemetery transformations, it is not an hour or an enjoyable shift, but it was necessary for us to do so.”
RTD officials said that continuous patrols across vehicles, stopping, stations and Al -Ittihad station themselves had a major impact.
A RTD spokesman said: “The increasing patrol procedures are really working, and we have officers in our cars, our stops and our stations, as well as at Denver Union Station,” a RTD spokesman said.
Since the initiative began, security calls have decreased from about 5,000 to slightly more than 2000 per quarter.
The Dragon said they noticed the difference.
One of the travelers said: “I think the presence of the increasing police, and these patrols really helped; the attachment feels better.”
Another added, “We used the train, the airport train, a little; the presence of the police there is a great feeling of safety.”
Some even called the Union Station “the living room in Denver”, noting how it appears today.
Denver also contributes to maintaining a police unit dedicated to supporting continuous safety efforts.
One of the officers said: “Restoration, giving this perception of safety, and informing the community that we hear what you say, we see things, and see problems, and we continue to build our employees, we will be able to publish officers, as you know,”.
In the future, RTD plans to continue employing more officers to ensure that Al -Ittihad station remains safe.
One of the officers said: “We hear positive reactions, and it is clear that there is an increasing curve, and there is learning, there are things that will happen, it is not a success overnight.” “Our plan to move forward is to preserve it. We have seen some success in the efforts we make, we want to preserve and build on it.”
RTD encourages cyclists to continue to report any issues to help maintain progress.