Boston City Councilor At-Large Michael F. Flaherty and Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn recently offered a resolution in support of concurrent police authority for State Police and the Boston Police Department on MassPort properties, including the South Boston Waterfront but excluding the Logan International Airport and airport related properties. Per state statute, the Boston Police Department currently does not have jurisdiction in these areas of the city.
The resolution was related to a House of Representatives budget amendment filed at the state level by Rep. Nick Collins. The Boston City Council has subsequently gone on record in support of Rep. Collins’ amendment for concurrent jurisdictions and equal access to police services for all areas of Boston.
Flaherty said, “The resolution that Councilor Flynn and I have offered in support of Rep. Collins’ proposed legislation does not take away the authority of the State Police – it seeks to provide the Boston Police the same police jurisdiction as the State Police in the City of Boston. The end goal is to make sure that emergency response services from 911 are addressed immediately.”
Flynn said, “Our support for Rep. Collins’ budget amendment is all about public safety and providing equal access to services from the Boston Police Department for all of our residents, including our neighbors on the South Boston Waterfront. We are merely seeking concurrent jurisdiction there for law enforcement; just as we currently have for state roads, the MBTA and DCR property.”
