Dotseth named permanent Metro Transit police chief

The Metropolitan Council has appointed Joseph Dotseth as the permanent chief of the Metro Transit Police Department after he served about 18 months in an interim role following the resignation of former chief Ernest Morales III amid an internal conduct investigation. Dotseth has nearly 25 years with Metro Transit Police, working as a patrol officer and internal affairs investigator before moving into leadership and taking over as interim chief in fall 2024. In a prepared statement, he said he is committed to making sure "every person who uses transit feels protected and respected," while Met Council regional administrator Ryan O’Connor touted his experience and pledged that the department will focus on rebuilding rider trust and regional partnerships. The council has not released specific policy or operational changes Dotseth intends to pursue, leaving questions about how he’ll handle ongoing concerns about crime, perceptions of safety, and enforcement practices on buses, trains and platforms across the metro. For Twin Cities riders and operators who use the system daily, this decision locks in who will be calling the shots on transit policing for the foreseeable future.