Opportunity in Blue

Committed to making commuters feel secure

The MTA Police is growing — from 521 officers in 2001 to a budgeted 723 in 2004 — largely due to post-9/11 security needs. That's a 38% increase, and overtime is up by 31% for the period. In this a rapidly growing organization, promotions happen frequently, and hiring is anticipated in the near future.

The MTA is a major metropolitan organization whose territory covers two of the nation's largest transportation lines in the five boroughs as well as upstate New York and Connecticut. MTA Police are fully empowered officers under the NYS Public Authorities Law and are commissioned in the State of Connecticut. They provide full police services throughout the MTA system, patrolling and protecting the MTA’s commuter rail lines and properties.

It's not surprising that many New York City police officers and members of other forces have joined the MTA Police. In fact, Police Chief Thomas Lawless, who spent many years with the NYPD, says, "The MTA Police are as fine a group of professionals as you'll find anywhere. We've got the kind of dedication and know-how every force needs and wants. We carry out our mission and get superb results."

Promoted to the rank of detective about a month ago, Keyla (pronounced "Keelah") Hammam of the Interagency Counter-Terrorism Task Force has been with the MTA Police for two years. She had previously been with the New York State Department of Corrections. When the attacks of 9/11 occurred and only the Department of Corrections's emergency response unit was assigned to assist in the clean-up, she wanted to help and was upset at not being able to get involved. A coworker told her about the MTA Police in glowing terms, and the rest is history.

Detective Hammam graduated tops in her class of 80. "I do the best I can do; not to be the best in my class or anything else, but to do my best and know I did so. I give 100%." The seven-month training program was hard, she says: "You just have to be prepared to commit yourself and push yourself. There’s nothing to be scared of, for women or anyone. And it pays off: this is a good, fulfilling job for anyone."

The MTA Police are involved in a greater variety of assignments than many people realize. Before her promotion, Det. Hammam was assigned to Penn Station, where she helped locate five missing persons, from the mentally ill to lost children. Those experiences are among the most memorable of her tenure at the MTA, as are the occasions when, out of the blue, a commuter thanks her for being there — "making us safe." It's all about helping people and "making them feel secure despite the current state of affairs."

Det. Hammam is particularly happy with her MTA work; unlike corrections, it involves lots of interactions with commuters, and "You can't treat them like criminals. You treat them as you'd like them to treat you: I try to be fair and give them respect and trust."

An MTA officer's work is varied, and it's not repetitive: "Every day is different and you don't have to be stuck in one position," says Hammam. An officer could be investigating suspicious persons or packages or dealing with disorderly conduct, burglary, assault, or a host of other problems that occur on the system. And officers can choose to work on specialized units that suit their interests and strengths. (Like dogs? There’s the K9 unit. Want to contribute to the job of making us safe from terrorists? There’s the Counter-Terrorism Task Force as well as the Emergency Services Unit. And the Highway Unit and many others.)

The MTA is stepping up its recruiting efforts for qualified men and women to fill positions such as these. There are attractive benefits. A uniformed Patrol Officer works a four-day (ten-hour shift) week and receives a competitive salary, paid weekly — starting at $36,528 a year to $56,088 after five years. Officers are covered by comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans; 401K and 457 deferred compensation plans; transportation benefits and a tuition assistance program. There is optional retirement at half pay after 20 years.

"The first step is the written exam," says Detective Sergeant Karen Taylor of the MTA Police. "The next exam is coming up in the fall, and there’s a $40 fee for the exam. That's a great investment for someone interested in law enforcement and a place on a highly respected force." Det. Hammam agrees: "It's very fulfilling for anyone from all walks of life."

The MTA web site at www.mta.info (click on the police shield) contains a full description of the job as well as a complete list of benefits and requirements and a printable application.