Legislators, State Police skeptical of MBTA officers' push for merger
The state's public transit police say a shortage of resources and personnel are forcing them to use "smoke and mirror" techniques to give the public a sense of security.
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Transit Police representatives testified at a State House hearing Tuesday on a proposed merger with the State Police, saying they can no longer protect subways, commuter rails, buses, trolleys or boats from terrorist attacks or other threats without the help of their state counterparts.
"It's a false sense of security," Michael Flanagan, legislative liaison for the MBTA Police Sergeant's Association, told a skeptical Public Safety Committee. "We had cadaver-sniffing dogs on the trains. People thought they were looking for explosives. I don't think we had any dead bodies in the bags … but this is what we do to make people feel safe."
Flanagan also said the 257 transit police officers are stationed at turnstiles and other strategic locations where the highest number of commuters can see them, instead of being able to patrol freely for problems.
The association estimates it needs an additional 500 new officers, which carries a $17 million price tag, to adequately police public transportation.
State Police firmly opposed the merger, estimating it would cost the state $23 million for equipment, training and salaries in the first year alone.
"While I can sympathize with my brother law enforcement agency, merging does not solve these problems," said David Cortes, secretary of the State Police Association. "We do not have an additional 480 officers."
State Police worried that merging the autonomous forces would create tension, seniority problems, and possible litigation over benefit changes.
Sen. Stephen Brewer, D-Barre, pointed to the absence of Public Safety Secretary Kevin Burke and Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen as an indication that the MBTA police are reaching for solutions without the support of the administration.
Brewer suggested pushing for more money in next year's budget to hire new officers.
Flanagan countered saying that despite graduating more than 100 officers over the past six years, the MBTA has only seen a net increase of 19 officers.
"This isn't the best practices we're looking for, we're looking for serious protection for the transit system. We're losing officers in droves," Flanagan said, attributing the low retention rates to officers wanting to perform less security duty and more community policing.
The MBTA currently has one officer for every 5,058 riders, compared to the national average of one officer to every 1,759 riders.
MetroWest (Mass.) Daily News staff writer Lindsey Parietti can be reached at lindsey.parietti@cnc.com.