Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Police

History

In October 1968, legislation was passed (Chapter 664 of the Acts of 1968, amended by Chapter 829 of the Acts of 1970 and Chapter 329 of the Acts of 1993) which created the MBTA Police Department (hereafter referred to as the MBTA Transit Police Department or the MBTA Transit Police) under the provisions of Massachusetts General Law (M.G.L.) Chapter 31. The first full-time MBTA Transit Police Officers were hired on December 9, 1968. The legislation established:

• a Police Department under the supervision of a Police Officer to be known as a Chief of Police;
• provided that all Police Officers except for the positions of the Chief, Superintendent or Major would be subject to M.G.L. Ch. 31;
• provided that all Police Officers would have, within the territorial limits of the authority, the powers and duties conferred or imposed upon Police Officers of cities and towns by M.G.L. Ch. 41, Sec. 98;
• provided MBTA Transit Police Officers additional powers of Railway Police Officers under M.G.L. Ch. 159 Sec. 93;
• and provided that MBTA Transit Police Officers have the same authority on city or town property as they have on MBTA property.

Therefore, MBTA Transit Police Officers have full police powers within the territorial limits of the Authority.

After a rash of indecent sexual assaults on the Green Line in 2007 and 2008, detectives from the Criminal investigations Section began riding Green Line trains in plain clothes. Female detectives posed as patrons and had success in catching sex offenders in the act.*{{cite web |access-date=2008-03-28 }}

2006 merger proposal

On August 5, 2006, the local media reported the MBTA Police could merge with the Massachusetts State Police due to budgetary and staffing concerns.{{cite web |access-date=2007-09-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311163901/http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/08/05/t_police_seek_merger_with_state_force/ |archive-date=11 March 2007}} The union which represents the MBTA Transit Police supports this plan citing the difficulty the 257-member force has providing security for a transit system that spans 177 cities and towns in the state. They also cite a rider to officer ratio of 5,058 passengers per transit officer, far greater than the national average of 1,759 passengers per transit officer. The union reasons that after a merger, the existing MBTA officers could form a new State Police troop concentrating on providing security for inner-city Boston subway and bus systems, while state police officers could concentrate on commuter rail stations, T parking and MBTA routes outside of the city. The union representing state police officers opposes the merger citing different training methods and selection processes for officers and extra competition for promotion opportunities.{{cite web

Jurisdiction

The MBTA Transit Police Department has jurisdiction and full police authority in all of the 177 cities and towns that comprise the MBTA service area. Outside the 177 cities and towns, the Transit Police exercises street railway police powers on the vehicles, properties and rights of way that comprise the Commuter Rail System. The Transit Police promotes safety and security throughout Greater Boston and eastern Massachusetts, working with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.The MBTA Transit Police Department provides police services to patrons and employees of the Authority on MBTA property and vehicles.

Enforcement of transit-related laws off MBTA property, such as writing parking tickets at bus stops, is shared with municipal police departments, and the Massachusetts State Police on Massport and DCR property.

References

References

1. "MBTA Transit Police | MBTA".
2. Steven Ryan. (2008-08-21). "From department store cop to the head of the MBTA police". [[GateHouse News Service]].
3. (1970). "1970 Chap. 0829. An Act Exempting The Office Of Chief Of Police And Deputy Chief Of Police Of The Police Department Of The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority From The Provisions Of The Civil Service Law.".
4. (1970). "1970 Chap. 0829. An Act Exempting The Office Of Chief Of Police And Deputy Chief Of Police Of The Police Department Of The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority From The Provisions Of The Civil Service Law.".
5. (1993). "1993 Chapter 0329. An Act Relative To The Positions Of Superintendent And Major Of The Police Department Of The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.".
6. Lindsey Parietti. (2007-10-04). "MBTA union rep used rumors to make merger case". [[Metrowest Daily News]].
7. Gurley, Gabrielle. (2014-05-27). "T keeps expanding but police don't keep pace".