Houston METRO appoints first Asian American police chief following rise in platform violence

The METRO Police Department in Houston has appointed Ban Tien as its new chief, making him the first Asian American to lead the department. Tien previously served as an Executive Assistant Chief at the Houston Police Department. This leadership change follows a rise in major crimes on metro platforms, which have nearly tripled in the past two fiscal years. The shift comes shortly after videos of violent incidents were shared with the media. Tien replaces Vera Bumpers, who held the position since 2014. METRO states the change aligns with its goal to enhance safety and reliability within the transit system.