VIA Metropolitan Transit joins communities across the country in saluting the service and honoring the sacrifice of law enforcement officers, especially the officers of the VIA Metropolitan Transit Police Department during National Police Week, May 15-21, and throughout the year. Learn more about how VIA officers are helping to keep San Antonio safe.

VIA Police Protect and Serve a Community on the Move

Safety for our customers and community is VIA’s top priority. Together with our Transit Police and local law enforcement partners, we work to establish and maintain trust and support from the communities we serve.

The VIA Transit Police Department (VTPD) was established as part of our mission to provide a safe transit system and secure service area for the people of San Antonio and Bexar County.

Image: VIA Transit Police Department

DID YOU KNOW? The VIA Transit Police Department has a dedicated group of men and women who provide a variety of law enforcement and public safety services anywhere VIA goes.

The duties of VTPD officers extend everywhere VIA goes, covering about 98% of Bexar County with 14 member cities and unincorporated areas of the region that together span 1,208 square miles – the second-largest transit service area in Texas.

The department is part of San Antonio’s public safety community and works with other local law enforcement agencies to provide a variety of public safety services, while developing the most effective means to ensure VIA customers and the public feel welcome and safe when riding VIA.

VTPD officers are licensed peace officers, with the same rights, duties, and obligations of all Texas peace officers. They are certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), and trained in de-escalation, and mental health crisis intervention.

Image: VIA Transit Police Department

DID YOU KNOW? VIA Transit Police officers are certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, are trained in de-escalation and mental health crisis intervention.

Throughout their service with VIA, officers are required to attend continuing education, training, and recertification courses to enhance best practices, updates on law enforcement technology, and strengthen conflict resolution skills.

The VTPD enforces applicable federal, state and city laws, as well as VIA Police policies and procedures, and works to educate the community through ongoing outreach and education efforts. They regularly attend public meetings, speak at area schools about safety, and host students who visit VIA to meet with officers and staff, and learn about the different roles within the department.

About VIA Transit Police

VIA Transit Police officers patrol and maintain a presence at VIA facilities, offices, transit centers, shelters, and stops, and along the routes, roads, and highways, where VIA operates. Officers conduct pro-active checks of buses, transit facilities, bus routes, and respond to calls for security as needed.

VIA’s Bicycle Patrol travels the Downtown San Antonio area to monitor activity at and around bus stops and shelters.

Image: VIA Transit Police Department

DID YOU KNOW? VIA Transit Police officers serve a population of more than 1 million residents and cover more than 1,200 square miles in San Antonio and Bexar county.

VIA participates in the “See Something, Say Something” safety awareness campaign, designed to encourage agency employees and members of the public to be aware of their surroundings and to report suspicious activity to proper law enforcement personnel. Partnering with VIA in this campaign are the emergency management offices of San Antonio and Bexar County and the members of City Year of San Antonio.

In 2019, VIA Transit Police earned statewide accreditation recognition for their dedication to service, through compliance with more than 168 Texas law enforcement best practices criteria. The VTPD was one of only two Transit Police departments in the state to receive the distinguished award from The Texas Police Chiefs Association, a voluntary recognition program to assist Texas agencies in meeting their professional obligations to the citizens of Texas.

For questions or comments about VIA Service, customers can call the VIA goLine at (210) 362-2020. For safety or security concerns, they can call the Transit Police Department’s Emergency Safety and Security line at (210) 362-2439.