Learn more about RTA K-9 teams

 Learn more about RTA K-9 teams

Transit Police   
1240 West 6th Street   
Cleveland, Ohio 44113-1877   
216-566-5163, emergency number, 24/7

The form to file complaints is currently under revision and will be posted soon. If this is an urgent matter, please contact Transit Police Supervision at (216) 566-5163. Thank you for your patience.

Duties and responsibilities

  • Seven teams of officer (handler) and K-9 (canine), one team of dual-purpose training
  • Explosive detection on trains, buses, and all RTA property
  • Assist Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) Team
  • Assist Anti-Terrorism Team
  • Help neighboring communities that don’t have dedicated explosive detection teams
  • Dogs live with their handlers and are part of their families
  • RTA maintains the seven teams on-call for around-the-clock incident response

TSA teams

  • Trained by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX
    • Initial training is 10 weeks
    • Require three- to four-day annual re-certification
  • Part of TSA National Explosion Detection K-9 Team Program
  • TSA provides approximately $50,500/year for seven of the K-9 teams
  • Used for explosives detection; also monitoring/patrolling the safety of passengers on RTA

Dual-Purpose team

  • Certified from the State of Ohio 
  • Certified nationally by North American Police Work Dog Association (NAPWDA)
  • Used for explosive odor detection, patrol, tracking and aggression and building and area search
  • Purchased by RTA