According to data obtained by CPR News, the chief of police at the Regional Transportation District was frequently driving an agency vehicle at speeds exceeding 100 mph.
Between November 2023 and May 2024, the vehicle assigned to Joel Fitzgerald, Sr. recorded over a dozen trips where it traveled at speeds exceeding 100 mph. Additionally, there were dozens of trips where the vehicle traveled at speeds over 90 mph, as per the data logged by a transponder attached to the vehicle.
According to records, Fitzgerald had access to an unmarked police SUV, which he could use to respond to urgent situations as required. It remains unclear if any of the instances of speeding were related to Fitzgerald’s duties as the police chief, responding to emergencies.
According to data records, Fitzgerald frequently exceeded the speed limit while driving on Interstate 25 between Denver and Colorado Springs. The transponder recorded his highest speed at 106 mph on January 11th at 8:02 a.m. while he was traveling between Castle Rock and Castle Pines. It’s worth noting that Fitzgerald relocated to Colorado Springs last year, as per the local property records.
According to a recent report by CBS Colorado, Fitzgerald has been put on leave since July 1 and is currently being investigated by an external party for violating policies.
The specifics of Fitzgerald’s leave remain unclear as RTD has not disclosed the policy violations that led to his departure. Despite repeated inquiries, the agency declined to comment on the matter. When asked about Fitzgerald’s leave, General Manager and CEO Debra Johnson refused to discuss the issue.
According to RTD spokesman Stuart Summers, the agency holds its employees to high standards of professionalism and adherence to policies and procedures when it comes to speeding data.
In an email, he stated that RTD is dedicated to comprehending the details regarding any actions that may not align with policies and procedures, to ensure that an appropriate response is implemented.
According to data acquired by CPR News, Fitzgerald’s visits to RTD facilities were infrequent, with an average of only nine days per month during his time in Denver.
CPR News’ attempts to reach Fitzgerald for comment were unsuccessful.
RTD’s internal rules and the law prohibit speeding unless it is related to a police chief’s duties during an emergency response. According to the agency’s policies, employees must comply with all traffic laws and regulations when using a vehicle.
According to reports, Fitzgerald managed to evade the authorities and was never caught. Despite contacting 10 different law enforcement agencies between Colorado Springs and Denver, including the State Patrol, CPR News found no evidence of any citations or arrest records.
According to state legislation, individuals who exceed the speed limit by 25 mph or more, as Fitzgerald did on multiple occasions, may be subject to a maximum penalty of a $300 fine and a 90-day imprisonment.
Fitzgerald was hired to do a big job, and he pulled a big salary.
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In 2022, Johnson appointed Fitzgerald to spearhead the expansion of RTD’s police department, with the aim of enhancing the safety of its vehicles and stations. At the time of Fitzgerald’s appointment in August 2022, the department comprised 18 sworn officers. However, under his leadership, the department has grown remarkably to 79 officers as of June 2024. Although Fitzgerald had set a target of having 200 sworn officers by 2024, the department’s progress towards this goal has been commendable.
In a controversial move, he spearheaded a revision to RTD’s passenger code of conduct that initially proposed a ban on all-day rides for passengers. Critics argued that this unfairly targeted individuals experiencing homelessness. After much debate, the proposed changes were eventually scaled back.
According to the offer letter obtained through a records request, Fitzgerald was offered an annual starting salary of $250,000 along with a $10,000 moving stipend and an $8,000 bonus.
Despite RTD’s relatively small size, its force under Fitzgerald had a higher number compared to the state’s largest police departments at that time. Additionally, his team includes hundreds of off-duty officers from local police departments and contracted security officers.
After working in the industry for 30 years and leading departments in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Iowa, Fitzgerald’s tenure as chief in Fort Worth came to an end in 2019 when he was fired. However, news reports suggest that the city officials are now considering a settlement with Fitzgerald, who had earlier sued the city.
Although he applied for the chief of police position in Austin, he was not selected as a finalist. This happened in recent times.
Fitzgerald had a reputation for not coming to work very much. The data bears that out.
According to security badge data obtained by CPR News, Fitzgerald and other RTD executives have been tracked. The data reveals that Fitzgerald accessed RTD facilities on 18 different days in September 2022, his first month at RTD. Additionally, he has used his security badge to access agency facilities for at least 15 days on two occasions since then. However, the number of days he accessed the facilities is much lower in many months. For instance, the count was just three days in May 2024.
Lance Longenbohn, the president of the local ATU union that represents numerous transit drivers and other front-line workers, expressed his disappointment, stating, “I am not surprised, but I am saddened.”
According to Longenbohn, there’s a humorous saying at RTD regarding some managers who are hardly ever seen around the office. Fitzgerald’s name often appears at the top of that list, he added.
According to Longenbohn, “He was always absent, we never received any communication from him.”
According to Longenbohn, Fitzgerald deserves credit for increasing the number of police officers in the force. However, he expressed concerns that despite the increase, bus drivers and train operators feel that officers are not present enough on the rail and bus network.
“He said that the biggest concern now is the development of the proverbial cops at the coffee shop scenario.”
Despite multiple requests for comment, Fitzgerald did not respond. Troy Whitmore, a board member who chairs the operations and safety committee, also declined to comment when questioned about the badge data.
One plausible explanation for Fitzgerald’s intermittent absences could be attributed to the tragic loss of his son, who was also a police officer and was killed on duty in Philadelphia in February 2023. However, according to the security badge data, there were relatively few days where he was present at the office even before this devastating event.
According to the data, it appears that while Fitzgerald had the option to work remotely, other RTD executives tended to be physically present at company facilities more frequently than Fitzgerald’s average of nine days per month.
Between September 2022 and June 2024, Debra Johnson, the CEO and General Manager of the agency, had at least one badge swipe for an average of 13.4 days per month. Similarly, Dave Jensen, the Assistant General Manager for Rail Operations at RTD, had at least one swipe for an average of 18.2 days per month during the same time period.
According to Longenbohn, the chief of police, Fitzgerald, could have been more effective in his role if he had been more visible and physically present.
“He said, ‘Working from home, I don’t see how the chief of police could manage it. After all, it’s a pretty hands-on job,'” remarked the speaker.