METRO Police Joins Community, Local Leaders to Celebrate Full Staffing

The METRO Boardroom was filled with police officers, local leaders, family, and friends as the METRO Police Department (MPD) welcomed 11 new officers in April. The latest addition puts the department at capacity with full-time officers for the first time in years.

Reaching full staffing is a major achievement for the agency as it renews focus on safety under the METRONow plan. 

The achievement was made possible by MPD's new Chief, Ban Tien, who was sworn in last November. In the five months he’s been with METRO, Tien has worked to increase police presence across the system.

“To continue fulfilling our strategic METRONow goal in maintaining a safe, clean, reliable, and accessible system, we are looking for additional opportunities to grow our department and collaborate with regional law enforcement partners to keep our riders safe,” Tien said. “This is just the beginning. There is much work to be done to safeguard the METRO system and the community at large, and we are working tirelessly to get the job done.” 

METRO Police Chief, Ban Tien speaks to attendees at the METRO Police Swear In Ceremony.

New MPD officer, Evan Dominic expressed his gratitude and excitement to be part of the department and this major milestone.

“I don’t even have the words. It’s a blessing, you know in itself,” Dominic said. “As long as I stay safe out there on the streets and do my obligation. I feel very confident.”  

MPD also brought on Henry Gaw as the agency's first Chief of Staff. Gaw joins METRO after serving as the Katy ISD Chief of Police since 2020 and working for the Houston Police Department for 26 years.

In his first few months in the role, Gaw plans to put his focus on getting to know the department and the overall METRO organization. Gaw expressed his excitement for this new chapter and to work alongside his fellow MPD officers.

“As the Chief of Staff, I plan to assist Chief Tien and the METRO Police Department in moving forward,” Gaw said. “I’m excited to be working with my new teammates to accomplish projects and initiatives that will move our department forward."

METRO Police Department's New Chief of Staff Henry Gaw