Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department
Patch of the MTA Police
Patch of the MTA Police
Logo of the MTA Police
Logo of the MTA Police
AbbreviationMTAPD
Agency overview
FormedJanuary 1, 1998[1]
Preceding agencies
  • Metro-North Railroad Police Department
  • Long Island Rail Road Police Department
  • Staten Island Rapid Transit Police Department (2005)
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionNew York City, New York, USA
Legal jurisdictionNew York and Connecticut
General nature
Operational structure
Sworn members1046
Agency executive
  • John Mueller, Chief
Parent agencyMetropolitan Transportation Authority
Units
List
  • Patrol
  • Highway Patrol
  • Detective Division
  • Inter-agency Counterterrorism Task Force
  • Emergency Services Unit
  • Canine Unit (K-9)
  • Communications Unit
  • Technology & System Development
  • Right of Way Task Force
  • Internal Affairs Bureau
Facilities
Districts
9
DogsMTA Police K-9
Website
Official Website

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department (MTAPD) is the police agency of New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority[2]

MTA police officers are fully empowered under the New York State Public Authorities Law and are commissioned in the state of Connecticut. Their geographic area of employment extends to all counties in New York served by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, giving officers the ability to exercise full police authority within the counties of Dutchess, Putnam, Orange, Rockland, Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk, and in New York City.

The MTA Police Department is the primary railroad police agency in New York State and Connecticut. The New York City subways are patrolled by the NYPD Transit Bureau under contract since 1994.

Since 2019, the MTA Police has officers conducting daily subway patrols in New York City in an effort to assist the NYPD in addressing quality of life issues, like homelessness, that affect commuters.

History

MTA Police officers in New York Penn Station

The department was formed on January 1, 1998, with the consolidation of the Long Island Rail Road Police Department and the Metro-North Railroad Police Department. Since 9/11, the department has expanded in size and has ramped up dramatically its counter-terrorism capabilities, adding canine teams and emergency services officers. There is one lieutenant, four sergeants, and 44 police officers who are assigned to the K-9 Unit and serve as handlers with their canine partners. The department has one of the best trained K-9 units in the United States. At a national competition in 2013, two MTA Police dogs took third and fourth place in explosives detection.[3]

Currently, training for new recruits is conducted at the New York City Police Academy. After successfully completing the academy curriculum, officers are further trained in Connecticut law and law enforcement procedures.

Staten Island

On June 1, 2005, the Staten Island Rapid Transit Police Department, with 25 officers, was merged into the MTA Police Department. The Staten Island Rapid Transit Police Department was responsible for policing the Staten Island Rapid Transit System in the borough of Staten Island in New York City. This was the final step in consolidating MTA agency law enforcement, and increased the total workforce of the department to 716, including civilians.[4]

New York City Subway

On September 12, 2019, the MTA announced the addition of 500 MTAPD officers to patrol the New York City Subway, nearly doubling the 783 officers previously employed by the MTAPD. This came shortly after Governor Andrew Cuomo directed the MTA to solve the issue of homelessness in the subway system.[5]

After criticism of multiple high-profile arrests, multiple MTA board members expressed concerns over the added police presence, citing the high cost of personnel, estimated at $249 million over four years.[6][7]

Accreditation

On the 3 March 2016 the MTAPD attained accreditation status from the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services Accreditation Council.[8]

Structure

MTA Police Ford Transit No.789

On June 29, 2022, former Yonkers Police Department Commissioner John Mueller was appointed as the sixth Chief of Police.[9]

The structure of the MTA Police is made up of the following senior officers:[10]

  1. Chief of Police ("4-star" rank) - head of the MTAPD
  2. Chief of Operations, Administration ("3-star" rank) - second in command and in charge of operations
  3. Assistant Chief of Special Services ("2-star" rank) - third in command and in charge of special services

Below them rank the rest of the department (see rank structure below) of approximately 1000 police officers.[11]

Officers serve across the transit system and in various departments (see below).

Ranks of Department

Staten Island Rapid Transit Police Patch

The following is a list of all of the ranks of the MTA Police Department:

Title Insignia Uniform Shirt Color
Chief of Police
White
Chief of Operations
White
Assistant Chief
White
Deputy Chief
White
Inspector
White
Deputy Inspector
White
Captain/Captain Commander
White
Lieutenant/Detective Lieutenant
White
Sergeant/Detective Sergeant
Dark Blue
Police Officer/Detective
Dark Blue

Rank insignia for Sergeant and Detective Sergeant (when in uniform) is worn on the upper sleeves of the shirt and jacket while rank insignia for Lieutenant through Chief of Department is worn on the collars of the shirt and the shoulders of the jacket.

Power and authority

MTA Police van, No. 2502

MTAPD officers are New York State police officers according to New York State Criminal Procedure Law, §1.20(34- meaning they have police powers in all of New York State.[12]

Officers are also commissioned officers in Connecticut, as MTAPD works in Connecticut (see above section).

Uniforms and equipment

MTAPD Sergeant in everyday uniform

Despite being a state (or inter-state) law enforcement agency, MTAPD officers wear similar uniform to NYPD personnel.

This includes:[13]

  • dark blue shirt with metal badge and collar pins
  • dark blue trousers
  • tie
  • jacket and coat
  • eight-point blue peaked cap, with cap-badge
  • duty belt
  • bullet-resistant vest
  • equipment vest
  • boots

The ESU and Hybrid Threat Unit wears a less formal version without metal badges and pins, and with writing on their shirts and jackets, with no "shield".[14]

A variety of vests, gloves and other appropriate gear for the season/duty can be worn, such as traffic vests.

MTAPD officers are all armed with a pistol and also carry:

  • Taser
  • Expandable baton
  • OC spray
  • Handcuffs
  • Radio that is linked with central despatch and other officers
  • notebooks and pens.

All officers wear a police badge (known in New York as a "shield") on their left chest, in regular and ceremonial uniform. The colour and style changes with rank.

Districts

MTA Police vehicle at the Tarrytown Metro-North station

There are currently 11 police districts within the MTA Police Department:

District #Location[15]
1 Central Islip
2 Bethpage
3 Jamaica
4 Penn Station
5 Grand Central Terminal
6 Mount Vernon
7 Beacon
8 Stamford, Connecticut
9 Staten Island
10 Grand Central Madison
11 1825 Park Avenue, Harlem, New York

Specialized units

MTA Police Department’s Explosive Detection Training Course Canine Graduation

The department has the following specialized units (details):[16]

  • Canine (K-9) Unit - provides special police dog support
  • Computer Crimes Unit
  • Emergency Services Unit[17] - police officers, with special equipment, who are trained for a variety of serious emergencies. Similar to the units of the Port Authority Police and New York City Police.
  • Detective Division - investigates serious crimes to do with MTA
  • Highway Unit[18] also known as "Highway Patrol" - patrols and protects the MTA bridges, highways, tunnels and other roads.
  • Homeless Assistance Unit
  • Interagency Counterterrorism Task Force - works with other New York state and city agencies.
  • Discovery Unit
  • Executive Protection Unit
  • Hybrid Threat Unit
  • Fare Evasion Task Force
  • Body Worn Camera Unit[19]
  • Communications Unit
  • Emergency Operations
  • Internal Affairs Bureau
  • Technology & System Development
  • Right of Way Task Force
  • Training Unit
  • Applicant Investigations

Patrolman's Benevolent Association

A group of MTAPD vehicles parked together. Notice the various lightbars and colour schemes in use.)

The MTAPD has a Patrolman's Benevolent Association, which is a union for the MTA Police officers, from the ranks of "Officer" to "Lieutenant" inclusive.

The MTA website states:[20]

The primary purpose of the MTA PBA is to serve as a representative for the welfare of union members and to be the sole collective bargaining agent for all Police Officers, Detectives, Sergeants, and Lieutenants.

Social media

The MTAPD has a Twitter account, that it uses to disseminate useful information for users of the MTA.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "PBA History | MTA Police Benevolent Association". The two departments began the task of merging the departments immediately and on January 1, 1998 the two departments officially became the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department.
  2. ↑ "MTA.info | MTA Police". web.mta.info. Retrieved November 20, 2017. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department is the police agency of New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
  3. ↑ "2013 United States Police Canine Association National Detector Trials" (PDF). United States Police Canine Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 8, 2013.
  4. ↑ MTA Newsroom Archived November 25, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ Nessen, Stephen (September 12, 2019). "The MTA Is Hiring 500 New Cops To Fix 'Quality Of Life' Issues In The Subway System". Gothamist. Archived from the original on November 12, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  6. ↑ Offenhartz, Jake (November 12, 2019). "MTA Board Members Reconsider New Subway Cops: 'What Is The Strategy Here?'". Gothamist. Archived from the original on November 15, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  7. ↑ Offenhartz, Jake (November 14, 2019). "Video: Police Arrest Man Selling Candy In Harlem Subway Station". Gothamist. Archived from the original on November 15, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  8. ↑ "MTA Police". new.mta.info. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  9. ↑ "John Mueller Appointed MTA Chief of Police".
  10. ↑ "Our Team". new.mta.info. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Our Team". new.mta.info. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Police Officer Definitions Criminal Procedure Law §1.20(34) Persons Designated as Police Officers" (PDF). dos.ny.gov. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Photos: MTAPD Officers and NYU Doctor Reunite with Passenger Whose Life They Saved at Orlando International Airport". new.mta.info. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Never know who you'll bump into at an inter-agency meeting. Lieutenant Baio was happy to see one of his old cops from @NYPD115Pct - Officer Carnaccio, now with @MTA Police". twitter.com. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Contact Us". Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  16. ↑ "About us". new.mta.info. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  17. ↑ Emergency Services Unit Truck
  18. ↑ Highway Patrol Car
  19. ↑ "About Us". mtapba.com. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  20. ↑ "About us". mtapba.com. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
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