MARTA Police History

In 1977, the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (GPOST) certified the first officers of the MARTA Police Department. This was the 26 member beginning of the MARTA Police Department. Over the years as the MARTA rail lines expanded, so did the Police Department. As of today, there are over 300 sworn positions and close to 50 civilians.

In the time since the MARTA’s Police Department began, we have implemented very successful patrol strategies which include bike and bus patrols. We will no longer have a posted officer on each train; instead, we will use both random uniform patrolling and plain clothes officers to address problems on trains and in the stations. These tactics will help focus on crimes of disorder (i.e. fare evasions, disorderly conduct, panhandling, smoking, etc.).

We are always looking for better ways to protect and serve our customers and will continue to do so in the future.

Our standards speak for themselves. In 1996, MARTA Police became nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). It was also one of the first agencies to earn Certification from the State of Georgia.