Transit Police: Community Watch

Look for Transit Police at these events around the community:

Community Watch

Image

Operation Kidwatch was created in 1997 as a small outreach program within the Transit Police Department. From 1998 to 2021 we attended an average of five to ten events per year. At these events we supplied parents with identification cards that had their child’s vital information and also included the child’s thumbprint. At the end of 2022 we attended over 80 events and created over eight thousand identification cards. As we continued our efforts in 21st Century Policing we discovered a need for senior citizen identification cards. With this addition added to our detail we renamed the program to Operation Community Watch. To date, our events have ranged from school details, parades, touch a truck events, meals to seniors, Halloween events, and Santa and Mrs. Claus on the holiday trolley. With great success comes great requests and we are continually thinking of new ways to be involved with the community we serve.

Fore more information and to request Community Watch at your event email kidwatch@gcrta.org

Honor Guard

The RTA Transit Police Department has had a Honor Guard since 1988. Color Guard participates in celebratory events, and the Honor Guard participates in solemn occasions. These ten officers are part of both units. The Color Guard/Honor Guard is a voluntary position at Transit Police and the officers who serve in this capacity perform a truly professional and honorable mission on behalf of the department.

The Honor Guard gets dispatched to many events throughout Cuyahoga County, including the annual Police Officer Memorial Parade. Color Guards and other units from across the region participate in this event. And while we have been fortunate as a department to have not lost any officers in the line of duty, the Transit Police Honor Guard does take part in memorial services or funerals for fallen officers.

Other Community Events

Upon request, we are able to provide safety talks, demonstrations and even the opportunity to do a Q/A with our K-9 handlers and their dogs! Children get the opportunity to hear first-hand stories.