MTA Police (Source: MTA)
Oct. 24, 2019 By Allie Griffin
State Senator Jessica Ramos is calling for Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) police officers to wear body cameras and has introduced legislation today to make the requirement a law.
The legislation would mandate that MTA cops wear body cameras capable of both audio and video recording. The legislation follows the authority’s September decision to hire an additional 500 transit police officers to address homelessness, fare evasion and quality of life crimes in the city’s subways.
The MTA police force is separate from the NYPD and transit cops are currently not required to wear body cams. Ramos wants them to have body cams like the NYPD.
“It is imperative that all law enforcement officials abide by the same standards when actively patrolling members of our communities,” Ramos said. “Body cameras are an effective tool for ensuring transparency and guaranteeing interactions between police officers and every day New Yorkers are recorded.”
Ramos said that body cameras are critical for transparency and accountability and protect the public safety of both civilians and members of law enforcement.
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6 Comments
The cops never do anything bad, why would this be a problem?
RE: Civil vs. Private police force comment
Metropolitan Transportation Authority. MTA Police Officers are fully empowered under the New York State Public Authorities Law and are commissioned in the state of Connecticut. Hence they ARE a bi state run police force much like the NY NJ Port Authority police force.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department is the law enforcement agency of New York’s RE: Civil vs. Private police force comment
Metropolitan Transportation Authority. MTA Police Officers are fully empowered under the New York State Public Authorities Law and are commissioned in the state of Connecticut. Hence they ARE a bi state run police force much like the NY NJ Port Authority police force.
They are a private police force and is not civil service. The cameras are contractual and MTA property is private property. Guess they know they do not abide by the NYPD patrol guide and can actually do police work and backed 100% by the authority .
They are a government run police department part of the NYS transit authority. You have to take a civil service test to get on. Look it up.
The MTA police is not a civil service agency. They are appointed off an exam it is a private police force. They do not abide by civil service law. they are part of a the NYS police fire retirement system