Metro Transit has made its pick at the top. On Monday, the Metropolitan Council appointed Joe Dotseth as the permanent chief of the Metro Transit Police Department after a long stint with the interim tag. Dotseth, a nearly 25-year veteran of the department, will continue overseeing policing on buses, light rail and transit facilities across the Twin Cities as Metro Transit keeps pushing to boost visible staffing and respond to rider safety concerns.
Council Names Dotseth Permanent
The council's decision was first reported by the Pioneer Press, which highlighted Dotseth's nearly quarter-century with Metro Transit. Speaking to the paper, Dotseth said "keeping our system safe is a responsibility I do not take lightly." Council members were presented with the move as a vote for stability and continuity in the agency's public safety work.
Interim Since 2024 After Internal Probe
Dotseth has been serving as interim chief since 2024, a role he stepped into after then Chief Ernest Morales III was placed on leave and later left the department amid an internal investigation, according to the Star Tribune. Morales's exit set off a search for steadier leadership at the top, and Dotseth, promoted from within, was tasked with keeping daily operations on track while the agency continued to push its safety agenda.
On-the-Ground Focus: Visibility, Hires and Partners
During Dotseth's time as interim chief, Metro Transit has leaned into a layered approach to safety, with sworn officers, Community Service Officers, TRIP agents and contracted supplemental security all used to increase presence on trains and at stations, according to Metro Transit. Recent agency updates reported that serious crime was down roughly 21 percent systemwide even as officer-initiated calls for service climbed, and Dotseth has been a key figure behind those operational shifts.
Council Praise And Next Steps
Met Council officials publicly backed the choice. Ryan O'Connor said Chief Dotseth "brings a distinguished record of leadership, a deep commitment to public safety and a genuine understanding of the communities we serve," as reported by the Pioneer Press. Council materials and Metro Transit say Dotseth will be responsible for continued hiring, rolling out supplemental security contracts and keeping up quarterly reporting as the agency's Safety & Security Action Plan moves forward.
For riders, the immediate picture is expected to look much like it has in recent months: more uniformed staff during peak times and continued targeted partnerships with local agencies and service providers. Metro Transit has said it will keep reporting its progress to the Metropolitan Council as Dotseth shifts from interim to permanent chief.
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