Adam Marvin was named Metro Transit's full-time Officer of the Year and Marty Williams its part-time Officer of the Year during a ceremony in which the transit agency honored 20 of its police officers, a National Guard member and a citizen Friday afternoon at police headquarters.

This marked the 16th year Metro Transit held the program to recognize officer who exhibited courageous and bravery while working to make the transit system safe for passengers who ride light-rail trains and buses.

"Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world," said Metro Transit Police Chief John Harrington in a nod to all of the agency's 69 full-time officers and 60 part-time officers. To Friday's honerees, he said "You put your lives at stake, you stood up when you easily could have stood back. You were the ear to listen to and the voice of reason and calm. Because of you we are all better cops and better users of transit."

General Manager Brian Lamb also announced the transit agency was honored by the Transportation Security Administration with its Gold Standard Award for keeping passengers safe.

Marvin (on the right), who has been with Metro Tranist for four years, was lauded for his leadership, loyalty, skill as a field officer, communication with the public and for his timeliness and detail reports.

"It's not about awards, but about keeping transit safe," he said. 'You do the best and work hard for the taxpayers, I owe it to them."

Williams (middle) won the Timothy Bowe Memorial Award, given annually to the department's top part-time officer in memory of the former State Patrol officer who was killed in the line of duty in 1997. Williams was selected for his ability to get cases solved and for high professional standards.

In other news, Harrington announced that the department will soon be growing. Metro Transit will add 19 new full-time officers and 28 part-time officers as the new Red Line BRT service begins operating on Cedar Avenue and ahead of next year's opening of the Green Line, the Central Light Rail Corridor between Minneapolis and St. Paul.