Michael Kemper is the Chief Security Officer for the MTA. In this role, he oversees the MTA Police Department, responsible for ensuring the security of LIRR, Metro-North, Staten Island Railway, major transit hubs (Grand Central Terminal, Penn Station, Jamaica Station, and Atlantic Terminal), and the MTA’s bridge and tunnel facilities. Kemper also serves as the primary liaison between the MTA, New York City Police Department (NYPD), and law enforcement partners throughout the region focused on public safety strategies and initiatives.
Prior to joining the MTA in 2024, Kemper was a 33-year member of the NYPD. He was first appointed to the NYPD in April 1991 and began his career on patrol at the 62nd precinct and the 71st precinct. Throughout his multi-decade career with the NYPD, Kemper served and commanded a variety of patrol and investigative assignments in all five NYC boroughs. He was promoted through the ranks and was appointed Chief of Transit, a three-star Bureau Chief, in December 2022. As the Chief of Transit, Kemper oversaw all NYPD operations within the New York City subway system.
A life-long New York City resident, Kemper earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the State University of New York. He is also a 2010 graduate of the Police Management Institute at Columbia University.