This posting is for FUTURETransit Police Officer openings in our Transit Police Department. SEPTA Transit Police officer wears a face mask in Center City Philadelphia, PA on May 8, 2020. Its how we live. That program lasted about two years, but didnt survive a round of budget cuts. In 2016, Nestel introduced body cameras to SEPTAs police force, to make good cops great cops and make the rest of them follow the rules., Love Philly? Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Expect a more slimmed down Santa Express train from SEPTA this year. That program got some unwanted attention last summer, when there were two reports within a few weeks of security guards assaulting individuals at transit stations. WHYY provides trustworthy, fact-based, local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community. Between January and mid-October, reports from SEPTA transit police of unarmed robberies and theft of mislaid property increased in comparison to the same period last year, from 63 to 141 and from 413 to 471, respectively. FY 2021-2022 Police Sworn Salary Structure Effective December 1, 2021 through November 30, 2022 Green Grade Rank Level Range Min Zone Min Control Point Zone Max Range Max P09 Police Chief 116,257 139,508 155,009 170,510 193,761 P08 Deputy Chief 89,429 107,314 119,238 131,162 149,048 P07 Police Captain 74,524 89,429 99,365 109,302 124,206 How is it possible? The estimated additional pay is $4,578 per year. The perennial child pleaser is 31 years old, but will only run on the Broad Street line this year. Sign up for our weekly newsletter. Kenneth Kriz, director of the Institute for Illinois Public Finance at the University of Illinois at Springfield, said these were common yet harmful phenomena at public agencies. With 160 officers available at the time, 90 were assigned to the patrol division, which was then split into three shifts. Market data provided byFactset. Ridership and revenue are both way down and the agency is considering service cuts. That includes stepped-up investments in social-service workers and security guards. (Instead of a paywall). Their perception was not helped by a violent attack on a SEPTA customer by an Allied Universal Security Services employee last summer, resulting in criminal charges. SEPTA officials said Adams knew the woman in the attack and that she reported the incident to authorities. Nestel is a fourth-generation police officer. Theres more to every story if you take the time to tell it. As a matter of fact, I hope it will help," Lynn Watson said. He said his organization applauds SEPTAs recent efforts to engage social workers. In 2015, the agency settled a class-action lawsuit for $13.1 million over claims the agency had forced employees to perform pre-shift work without compensation. Financial records obtained by PlanPhilly and Billy Penn showed spending patterns that experts say raise serious questions about oversight, echoing a similar payroll scandal that rocked New Yorks Metropolitan Transportation Authority with federal investigations, internal audits and ongoing political battles. As he runs to succeed Wolf as governor, Shapiro says he is against some of the same COVID measures that his fellow Democrat used to help manage the pandemic. Download the SEPTA App from the Apple Store, Download the Transit Watch App from the Apple Store, Threatening Items Prohibited on SEPTA Property. Changes in the transit police pay scale will go into effect as early as Sunday, the agency said. Prepares investigation or incident reports. WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. Bervine said this is about $10,000 less than where Philadelphia Police Department recruits start and roughly $15,000 below the starting salaries earned by NJ Transit police and officers with the Delaware River Port Authority. Labor costs account for about 70% of SEPTA's $1.5 billion budget, and the agency shelled out nearly $59 million just in overtime payments for the fiscal year ending in June 30, 2020. In the past five. Two other SEPTA cops, Officer Floyd Whitaker and Sgt. Collaborates with other law enforcement while responding to incidents. "It can deter people but it should help. The transit force is armed, though there have been recent issues with the type of guns they carry. Click on or copy the following link into your address bar to find the specific physical fitness requirements for your age and gender: Prior to undergoing formal officer training, recruits are required to pass a reading exam, medical screening, physical agility test, polygraph and psychological exams. Spending on safety and security will increase by about 50% to $53 million for the 2023 fiscal year, which begins July 1. Nestel referred all questions to SEPTA public relations. On the. Officers will also attend an additional 40 hours of training annually to retain their certification. WHYY provides trustworthy, fact-based, local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community. Earlier this year, a SEPTA officer was shot by a suspect near the Franklin Arrott Transportation Center in Philadelphia, sustaining injuries that landed him in the hospital in critical but stable condition. GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE. But that didnt stop them from spending what experts say is an. "If SEPTA needs more police officers, the reality is that more needs to be done to make this a job people want and that can compete with other agencies," Bervine said. Quintez Adams, 28, was wanted following the incident that happened Sunday afternoon between the Girard and Erie avenue stations. SEPTA is mandating transit officers work two hours of overtime per shift during the holidays. Nearly 220+ officers serve and protect within the 2,200 square-mile SEPTA service area. When a position becomes available, candidates will be selected from this list of applicants. Crime on transit decreased by 47% by the end of 1982, according to SEPTA. The starting salary for a SEPTA police officer is $18 per hour. How much does Septa pay? Together we can reach 100% of WHYYs fiscal year goal. The previous top rate was $66,480 after 48 months of service. One SEPTA police officer doubled his salary and made almost as much as the mayor of Philadelphia. In the mid-1960s and late 1970s, the transit authority saw spikes in safety problems and complaints on the subway, according to SEPTAs own historical account. If BP helped inform you, join as a member today! The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has reached a deal on a new contract proposal with the Fraternal Order of Transit Police union to offer "the most significant increase in salary in more than 20 years" for SEPTA Transit Police Department officers, according to a letter from the FOTP obtained by FOX 29. These units receive an additional level of training and provide specialized support in policing a public transit system. (In their fourth year of service, Officers will be making $65,080 annually.) Hes an economics professor at Carnegie Mellon and he said he was literally dumbfounded over the amount of overtime that SEPTA was spending, alluding to the fact that he probably thought they were claiming that fraudulently. Transit Police did. SEPTA says the move will help it recruit and retain new officers. We know people will see the numbers, and some will look big in relation to what someones base salary is, Busch said. A small number of SEPTA managers and police officers, through overtime, earned annual pay comparable to Mayor Jim Kenney and other public executives. Maintains surveillance of individuals or establishments, records information about suspicious objects. *Be at least 21 years of age and a U.S. citizen. Phone: (215) 580-7800 Transit Police Officers are responsible for policing the entire regional SEPTA system, covering an area of five Pennsylvania counties (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia) and three states (Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania). . But some of the top earners were not workers responding to emergencies on the tracks, but rather the frontline managers who supervise those laborers. And if the financial management is questionable, who knows what they could pay out for people if they did a better job? Aggravated assaults and robberies in SEPTA stations, transit hubs, and vehicles rose more than 80% between 2019 and 2021, the agency said. Bucks a must-win for Philly? Please give today. Police Officers salaries on the level of Police Departments throughout the Philadelphia region. Ridership and revenue are both way down and the agency is considering service cuts. The pandemic has thrown SEPTA into a budget crisis. The unions contract expires in 2023. WHYY offers a voice to those not heard, a platform to share everyones stories, a foundation to empower early and lifelong learners and a trusted space for unbiased news. Separately, a man was stabbed multiple times Sunday at SEPTA's 34th Street Station on Sunday afternoon, police said. The other five members are appointed by elected officials in Harrisburg, one by the governor and one each by the majority and. And some employees earn nearly twice what their peers make for doing the same job. Robberies and aggravated assaults were up 80% from 2019 to 2021, according to the Inquirer, despite or perhaps furthered by a sharp decline in ridership during the pandemic. Investigators had said Adams was known to frequent the area around 13th and Market streets. Chris Zabala, a SEPTA electrician who left the agency in 2016, said that while unionized workers struggled to get their own overtime hours approved, management seemed to be able to easily game the system. Earlier this year, the SEPTA board approved contracts with three other security companies, adding 88 people to its SEPTA Outreach program, meant to help customers navigate trains and stations, assist with destination-less riders and serve as extra eyes and ears for the Transit Police.. Matthew Sinkiewicz (DOB: 12/13/1983) of. A 21-year-old Delaware County man has been arrested in last month's fatal shooting of a Kensington man on SEPTA's Market-Frankford Line train, Philadelphia police said Wednesday. Its no secret to us that the top echelon of managers get more overtime, weve been seeing that and living that, he said. All rights reserved. The "Most Likely Range" represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role. The union has attempted to address its concerns with SEPTA General Manager Leslie Richards and other officials, but hasn't gotten much attention from SEPTA's brass. MICHAELA: The union claimed that SEPTA was, in fact, partially responsible for [the death of SEPTA mechanic Ted Nixon], since he likely contracted the virus at work. Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police President John McNesby discusses the change in tune as city leaders look to refund the police amid nationwide crime spike. Thanks for your tweet and service to the city. They reached agreement on raises after about six weeks of talks. SEPTAs Recruitment Department is currently accepting applications for the position of Transit Police Officer. Emergency Call Boxes in subway stations also put you in immediate contact with Transit Police. Others said the generous overtime payouts had warped the transit agencys workplace culture. Reports any safety concerns, compromises or hazards affecting operations, the public, self and/or other employees. Sign up for our weekly newsletter. Legal Statement. Press Tab to Move to Skip to Content Link, SEPTA Transit Police Officer (0007) - 1234 Market, Recruitment Department is currently accepting applications for the position of Transit Police Officer. Nestel informed SEPTA a week prior that he intended to retire after the holiday, agency spokesperson Andrew Busch said, but there were rumors hed been given an ultimatum to step away from the position and public pressure had been building. Busch acknowledged that overtime payouts, which do not contribute to an employees pension, were sometimes a factor in internal promotions. SEPTA, at the beginning of the pandemic, like most agencies, was scrambling to get enough PPE for all its workers, enough hand sanitizer. The starting salary for rookies entering the academy will be raised from $46,536 to $56,507, and post-graduation pay will go from $49,536 to $62,387. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY). Below is a list of the top-10 highest-paying states for police officers: California average police officer. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. provides outstanding benefit and retirement programs: Voluntary Governmental 457B Deferred Comp Plan, SEPTA employment also qualifies for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, SEPTA Transportation Pass FREE travel on all SEPTA modes of transportation, Transit Police Officer Physical Requirements. And now were seeing this sketchy [overtime] system where theyre paying out excessive amounts to a handful of employees. Billy Joel & Stevie Nicks floor seat tickets, Regional rail stations were nearly empty in the wake of the coronavirus shutdown. At SEPTA, transit police officers earn more than the police chief they report to. Currently there are about 212 on the force, SEPTA spokesperson Busch said. GOOD LUCK! But former SEPTA employees, like Chris Coyne, werent so sure. (Photo by Cory Clark/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images). Managers had incentives to drag out maintenance projects to run up hourly claims. PhillyVoice Staff, Driver charged in fatal Christmas Eve hit-and-run in Bristol, Video shows bouncer punch man outside Center City bar, prompting homicide investigation, City Council pushes for more funding to address quality-of-life issues in underserved communities, by an Allied Universal Security Services employee, two people were pushed onto the subway tracks, Jason Kelce could make a 'Saturday Night Live' cameo with his brother Travis hosting, School District of Philadelphia to relocate Building 21 students following asbestos exposure, Eagles wide receiver Zach Pascal robbed at gunpoint in Maryland, Eli Lilly slashed insulin prices, starting a race to the bottom. The TWU Local 234 union that represents SEPTA personnel called for Nestels resignation over a year ago, after an attack on a SEPTA employee. Together we can reach 100% of WHYYs fiscal year goal. And he earned $116,000 in overtime, which is more than his annual salary. Average SEPTA Police Officer yearly pay in Philadelphia is approximately $50,000, which is 8% below the national average. NBC10 hires Fred Shropshire to replace Jim Rosenfield as weekday evening anchor. Related Searches:All Septa Police Officer Salaries|All Septa Salaries. Charles Cole Credit: Courtesy SEPTA. WHYY thanks our sponsors become a WHYY sponsor. The lowest-paying job at Septa is a Customer Service Representative with a salary of $36,718 per year. The transit authority has also teamed up officers with social workers in an effort to help individuals from vulnerable populations to seek housing, help with addiction and mental health services. Amid a public outcry about increased crime and antisocial behavior on the region's public transit system and difficulty recruiting and hiring candidates for SEPTA's police force, the transit agency has agreed to raise starting pay for officers a stunning 25%. Officers with four or more years of service on the force will see a pay boost of around 11% under the new labor agreement, and those in the department under four years will reach a new "top rate" of $74,588 after 25 months. It'll take only two years for them . Last month, SEPTA and the union for SEPTAs transit police, FOP Lodge 109, reached an agreement to raise salaries, effective June 19. Learn more about Social Responsibility at WHYY. Equal parts funny and fascinating, Bullseye sifts the wheat from the chaff, and brings you hot culture picks, in-depth interviews with the most revered and revolutionary creative people and irreverent original comedy. Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc. And I think thats a legitimate question for a lot of people to ask, especially looking at overtime spending that on its face just seems kind of absurd. Subscribe for the why behind this story and others that matter in the Philly region. 2023 Flower Show Weekend Extra Regional Rail Train Service, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Serving Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. These efforts have had mixed results, but SEPTA has struggled to recruit new armed officers. Aug 3, 2021 #SEPTA is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect wanted in an assault of a SEPTA employee. A pending employment lawsuit brought by a SEPTA transit police officer was a deciding factor in Nestels departure, the Inquirer reported. Nice to see you. Additional pay could include bonus, stock, commission, profit sharing or tips. Worse thing its HMO which really isnt that bad., Union employees have to wait a full year for vacation time. That total means the police lieutenant was the fourth highest-paid SEPTA employee, earning considerably more than SEPTA Police Chief Thomas Nestels $175,744 salary and a little less than the $218,000 brought in by Mayor Jim Kenney each year. Investigates illegal or suspicious activities. MICHAELA: I spoke to a few municipal finance experts and they were saying generally, if someone is making more than like 20% of their salary in overtime, that probably indicates some kind of systemic problem. SEPTA officials have repeatedly stated that weak officer recruitment has prevented the authority from putting more police at stations and on trains to deter criminals. Officers with four or more years of service on the force will see a pay boost of around 11% under the new labor agreement, and those in the department under four years will reach a new "top rate". Compensation. So, for example, SEPTA police officer Lt. Michael Wright earned more overtime than anyone else on SEPTA staff. Reporters Ryan Briggs with WHYYs PlanPhilly and Michaela Winberg with WHYYs Billy Penn uncovered this troubling pattern, which stands in stark relief next to SEPTAs recent statement it cant afford to pay additional death benefits to families of workers who died of COVID-19.