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(rshsdepot) Trenton, NJ
From the Trenton Times=2E=2E=2E
Train station changing officers=20
Friday, December 20, 2002
By KEVIN SHEA=20
TRENTON - In an effort authorities hope will make the Trenton Train Statio=
n
safer for travelers, NJ Transit police officers will replace Amtrak police=
next month and plan on deploying more officers in and around the South
Clinton Avenue facility, transit authorities said yesterday=2E=20
The mutual plan has been in the works for months, both organizations said
yesterday=2E=20
Several factors led to the change, according to NJ Transit officials,
including their desire to police their own station - NJ Transit owns the
building - homeland security issues and customer service=2E=20
The quality of policing that Amtrak officers provide the Trenton station
was not an issue, but their staffing levels were, NJT Police Chief Joseph
Bober said yesterday=2E=20
Amtrak officers stationed in Trenton will be reassigned to NJT's new $125
million concourse at Penn Station in Manhattan, officials at both agencies=
said=2E=20
The switch takes place at midnight on Jan=2E 11, when NJ Transit police
formally take over patrol duties=2E Amtrak police will leave the station b=
y
Jan=2E 18, an Amtrak spokeswoman in Washington said=2E=20
Bober said yesterday the plan will benefit riders and the community alike=2E=
He said his 200-person agency is establishing a Trenton Command and will b=
e
able to improve on Amtrak's staffing=2E=20
He declined to say how many police officers would be sent to Trenton but
said it would be in the double-digits=2E He said a minimum of three office=
rs
would always be at the station=2E=20
A lieutenant will command the Trenton operation and have jurisdiction over=
the Hamilton Train Station as well, which NJ Transit also owns=2E But no
officers will be stationed permanently at Hamilton=2E=20
- -- -- --=20
Amtrak police currently have nine officer slots assigned to the Trenton
station, with a minimum of two assigned per shift=2E They work 24 hours a
day=2E=20
In July, Amtrak was advertising for two police officer positions for the
Trenton Train Station and said they were down to seven positions=2E=20
Bober said his department will police the station more visibly and plan
several physical and cosmetic changes that riders will see everyday=2E=20
A new police office with updated holding cells is planned, and a large,
raised watch desk in the center of the main hallway will allow officers to=
look out on almost all areas of the station=2E=20
"We felt (it would) better serve our customers if we were there right on
the spot for them," Bober said=2E=20
NJ Transit announced in October that a $2=2E8 million contract to complete=
design work for a new Trenton Train Station, a renovation that could cost
more than $45 million, which has yet to be budgeted=2E=20
The agency has said it wants to make the station a 39,000-square-foot,
two-story structure and add office, retail and community space as well as
new landscaping and signs=2E=20
Bober said he has had three meetings with Trenton police supervisors and
Mercer County Prosecutor Daniel Giaquinto to form a better working
relationship=2E=20
Trenton police spokesman Sgt=2E Jim Dellaira said their working relationsh=
ip
with Amtrak police is solid, and the department looks forward to such a
relationship with NJ Transit=2E=20
Sometime in February, NJT police officers are scheduled to cross-train wit=
h
city police and prosecutor's officials, Bober said=2E=20
"We're going to be moving forward," Bober said=2E "We have a lot to offer
each other, and we're going to make a great team and make a safer rider
environment," he said=2E=20
- -- -- --=20
Hamilton police Capt=2E Kevin Pollard, who has been involved in policing
issues at the Hamilton Train Station since it opened in February 1999, was=
slightly disappointed with yesterday's news=2E=20
He said NJ Transit police "have played virtually a minuscule role in
enforcement roles since (the Hamilton station) opened=2E" Hamilton police
officers were called to the station 234 times in 2001 and have responded
198 times so far this year=2E=20
Bober said while the main focus would be the Trenton station, the plan
could also benefit Hamilton=2E=20
Officers will make periodic checks of the Hamilton station, and the
lieutenant in charge is authorized to deploy officers there when needed=2E=
And they will be much closer than they are now at locations in North
Jersey=2E=20
He also said Hamilton Deputy Chief George Zimmer is a personal friend and
they will be able to work professionally together=2E=20
Mercer County Prosecutor Daniel Giaquinto said the plan is positive for
Mercer County, and he and Bober said yesterday they have a developing
rapport with Hamilton Mayor Glen Gilmore about NJT security issues=2E=20
Gilmore is set to meet today with Bober and Giaquinto about the beating of=
a NJT bus driver in Trenton last weekend=2E Gilmore was concerned about th=
e
attack because the driver picked up the youths who attacked him in
Hamilton=2E=20
NJ Transit has said the attack was an isolated incident=2E=20
Trenton Mayor Douglas H=2E Palmer eagerly welcomed the new plan, saying it=
's
something he's looked forward to for years=2E He said he "sporadically" go=
t
complaints about crime at the station, and for years he has talked about
the city deserving a better train station=2E=20
"It's good and it's needed and our police will work with it," Palmer said
of the plan=2E "This is good news=2E"=20
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