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The SEPTA police are commissioned by the Pennsylvania governor, and when its fully staffed its the fifth largest police department in the state, according to the agency. 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.. The authority replaced them with Glock 17s, which arrived after a delay. A small number of SEPTA managers and police officers, through overtime, earned annual pay comparable to Mayor Jim Kenney and other public executives. 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. Learn more about Social Responsibility at WHYY. And it draws into question the management financially of this entire agency. The majority of the overtime went to maintenance and construction divisions, like one at the heart of an ongoing FBI probe, or the agencys in-house police force. The transit agency is adding information about trafficking on digital signage in addition to static signs being posted in bus depots. 860 talking about this. The estimated base pay is $56,219 per year. 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? The average salary for a Septa Police Officer is $47,809 per year in United States, which is 21% lower than the average Septa salary of $60,798 per year for this job. Its how we live. 800 Views. Charles Cole Credit: Courtesy SEPTA. Amid a public outcry about increased crime and antisocial behavior on the regions public transit system and difficulty recruiting and hiring candidates for SEPTAs police force, the transit agency has agreed to raise starting pay for officers a stunning 25%. Average daily ridership now hovers at about 53% of pre-COVID levels, or roughly 520,000 passengers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. It's been difficult to recruit people to join. The fundraiser aims to raise $1,000 to help pay for SEPTA Key cards for asylum-seekers who recently arrived in Philadelphia from Texas. Its just something employees have to consider if they want to move up or stay in that overtime- eligible position, he said. After graduation from the academy it's $19.20, then after three years of service it's $26 per hour. Septa employees rate the overall compensation and benefits package 4.1/5 stars. SEPTA Police Get Largest Salary Boost In Two Decades As Agency Fights To Improve Safety June 15, 2022 / 5:00 AM / CBS Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It's the largest salary increase for. (Photo by Cory Clark/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images). Kenya police salary scale, allowances in 2022 - Tuko.co.ke 2023 Flower Show Weekend Extra Regional Rail Train Service, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Serving Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. The harsh reality is that nobody wants to be a SEPTA police officer," Bervine said. And there are a few dozen who earned more than their annual salary each year in overtime. The union chief also said improvements to working conditions are needed for existing transit police officers. The "Most Likely Range" represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role. After several months of negotiations with the Fraternal Order of Transit Police Lodge 109, SEPTA agreed to raise the starting pay from $49,858 to $62,379. Philadelphia Police Department - Facebook FOTP Lodge 109 leaders sought a meeting with SEPTA management to discuss pay earlier in the spring. Tensions over the state of security on SEPTA appear to be reaching a head. Sheriff/Police Chief Salary in Berlin, NJ | Salary.com Reports of aggravated assault and robbery on SEPTA soared during the pandemic as ridership fell, California residents do not sell my data request. With more online . MICHAELA: You cant say that because SEPTA paid out this overtime, they couldnt pay out these financial death benefits. Average SEPTA Police Officer yearly pay in Philadelphia is approximately $50,000, which is 8% below the national average. It'll go into effect later this week and officers will work 10-hour shifts through December, SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch told Axios. And at the end of the fiscal year, he had earned $212,000 altogether. SEPTA Police Chief Thomas J. Nestel III's best estimate was there were about 10 passengers in the close vicinity of Ngoy and the woman during the rape, which started about 9:52 p.m. and ended. PHILADELPHIA (Oct. 22, 2020) District Attorney Larry Krasner on Thursday announced Aggravated Assault and related charges against SEPTA Police Sgt. 90. Our customers can only realize transits affordability, equity, and sustainability benefits if they feel comfortable riding on SEPTA, which is why were committed to doing everything we can to keep our system safe, the authority said in a statement. In the late 60s, a special unit of the Philadelphia police was sent into transit duty, and there was some talk of creating a separate police force, but when safety issues abated, the idea fizzled. The K9 Unit inspects unattended bags and packages in those areas to detect explosives. A sweeping pay increase in SEPTA's fight to improve safety as transit police officers brace for the largest salary boost in two decades. Here's How Much Money Police Officers Earn In Every State - Forbes The move also comes as SEPTA continues to struggle to recover ridership, which dropped during the height of the pandemic, and perceptions of danger dont help bring people back. We know people will see the numbers, and some will look big in relation to what someones base salary is, Busch said. Life as a State Trooper | Mass.gov "With so much gun violence going on, I think everybody will feel better knowing that our public transportation system is being safeguarded and patrolled," Oh said. 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. So the unions specifically asked for a $500,000 death benefit for [Teds family] and all of the families who lost a SEPTA employee. You see that the people above you dont care.. Not too many places still have a pension plan. Expect a more slimmed down Santa Express train from SEPTA this year. Sign up for the free Billy Penn newsletter to get everything you need to know about Philadelphia, every day. In the complaint, filed last year, Jon Randolph, who is Black, alleged his supervisor created a hostile work environment based on Randolphs race and Muslim religion, and that the supervisor used his closeness with Nestel to discourage Randolph from making complaints. Union leaders did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the plan. FOX Business' Jeff Flock with more. The average Septa salary ranges from approximately $36,718 per year for a Customer Service Representative to $111,809 per year for a Project Manager. Meet 20 frontline workers essential to SEPTA service in Philly - Billy Penn Transit Police | SEPTA Then, in October 1978, following a string of attacks on SEPTA personnel, the authority started renting police academy rookies from the city several dozen individuals known as the SEPTA Strike Force. 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. #cheesesandwich pic.twitter.com/EDor8ktUeG. How Much Does Septa Pay in 2023? (442 Salaries) | Glassdoor Your input helps Glassdoor refine our pay estimates over time. How accurate is this most likely Total Pay range (base + additional) of $50K-$74K/yr? TDD/TTY: (215) 580-7853. With increasing levels of violent crime and other chronic problems, such as drug use and homelessness, would-be SEPTA transit police recruits are more inclined to pursue what they consider potentially less demanding jobs elsewhere, with better pay. Average Salaries at SEPTA Installation & Maintenance Signal Maintainer $33.48 per hour Mechanic $27.59 per hour Maintenance Person $33.07 per hour Project Management Project Engineer $76,191 per year Project Manager $83,851 per year Program Manager $108,277 per year Driving Bus Driver $20.73 per hour Truck Driver $30.41 per hour Driver Under the agreement, SEPTA also will shorten the time it takes to reach the top pay rate for patrol officers, about $71,000, to 24 months from the current nine years. SEPTA Transit Police officer wears a face mask in Center City Philadelphia, PA on May 8, 2020. Sign up for our weekly newsletter. that they couldnt really afford to pay a death benefit to each of the families who lost someone. "The problem is not that people dont want to be police officers. And they argued that thats evidence that SEPTA didnt provide enough to protect its workers and should pay more to the families who who lost loved ones. 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. Thomas J. Nestel III (@TNestel3) / Twitter "In just the past five years, we have lost over 100 officers to resignations, almost all of whom have left to take police officer positions with departments offering higher salaries, better benefits and better working conditions," said Omari Bervine, president and CEO of the Fraternal Order of Transit Police Lodge 109. He landed the top job at SEPTA after being Upper Morelands police chief for 5 years, and before that he served 22 years in the Philadelphia Police Department. Prepares investigation or incident reports. One SEPTA police officer doubled his salary and made almost as much as the mayor of Philadelphia. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Managers had incentives to drag out maintenance projects to run up hourly claims. Sign up for our weekly newsletter. Subscribe for the why behind this story and others that matter in the Philly region. "SEPTA transit police will be in stations and on vehicles ensuring that those who are traveling have good reason to be on the system," a SEPTA official said on Tuesday. Busch defended the overtime payments, asserting that all three were charged with mission- critical maintenance roles, and that SEPTAs seniority rules meant veteran employees, like the trio, got first dibs. We have everyday emergencies that come up, Busch said. All tips can be kept confidential. Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc. Those seem like really obvious questions, Kriz said. On the. But the overtime money was not distributed equally, with fully half of all OT payments going to just 800 employees, or less than 10% of SEPTA's 9,200-strong workforce. 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. The estimated total pay for a Septa Police Officer at Septa is $60,798 per year. The union that represents SEPTA workers fought for a $500,000 death benefit a payout that New Yorks MTA provided over the summer. One involved a man punching a SEPTA maintenance worker and the other is wanted for stabbing a teen after a fight on a train spilled onto the platform. But Joe Coccio, secretary-treasurer with Transport Workers Union Local 234, which represents many blue-collar SEPTA workers, said its because managers have a stronger say in how overtime hours are assigned. Worse thing is taking so long to get to it., Very minimal what you have to pay and that includes family plan. The authority's private security contractors have not been as effective as hoped in improving the situation during the pandemic. Transit Police did. Want a digest of WHYYs programs, events & stories? SEPTA Transit Police officer wears a face mask in Center City Philadelphia, PA on May 8, 2020. Sign up for the free Billy Penn newsletter and stay in the know. Sinkiewicz, now fired from his job as Sergeant with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority police (SEPTA), was among the law enforcement officers stationed by the MSB and Frank Rizzo statue the night . A 29-year-old man was stabbed in the arm at Suburban Station during a confrontation during the early morning hours on Saturday. Please give today. This employer has claimed their Employer Profile and is engaged in the Glassdoor community. That includes stepped-up investments in social-service workers and security guards. Septa Septa Police Officer Salaries | Glassdoor 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. These non-union supervisors are empowered to collect overtime much like rank-and-file workers, guided by agreements hashed out by SEPTA unions. The TWU Local 234 union that represents SEPTA personnel called for Nestels resignation over a year ago, after an attack on a SEPTA employee. Its no secret to us that the top echelon of managers get more overtime, weve been seeing that and living that, he said. 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 The job of a SEPTA transit police officer is about 90% on foot and moving through the transit system, compared to the work done by officers in other departments with more vehicle patrols, Bervine said. 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. Amid staffing shortages, SEPTA has been bringing in outside contractors to help address safety concerns. Frustration mounts in SEPTA's transit police union as - PhillyVoice The estimated total pay for a Septa Police Officer at Septa is $60,798 per year. Mark Dorsey - University of Pennsylvania - LinkedIn They would call a guy like me in, a union guy, to justify that a man needed supervision. In a series of public hearings, one of the solutions mentioned was to create a professional transit police force. Museum for Art in Wood introduces Philly to the Islamic mashrabiya screen, Philly street sweeping starts again in April, Foal cam offers miraculous look at next generation of Pennsylvania-born race horses. Philadelphia City Councilman David Oh has lately pressured SEPTA to make the changes necessary to fill out its transit police force. Overall Benefits Rating.css-11cfy92{color:#0caa41 !important;}.css-11cfy92{color:#0caa41 !important;}4. Thats a payout that New Yorks MTA provided over the summer to all the families of employees who had died working for that transit agency. A man sought in connection with multiple sexual assaults, including the rape reported last weekend on SEPTA's Broad Street Line, was taken into custody by Philadelphia police Wednesday morning, officials said. (Photo by Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images). for the next Police Academy class starting in July 2023. Compensation. The chief coined the hashtag #cheesesandwich (a reference to the meal served in a jail holding cell), which he used on Twitter when posting pictures of people caught trying to ride for free. Oh said the problem wasn't the position but the pay. He also underscored that this weeks arrest of frontline manager Ryan Kappler, who was dismissed in January, reflected SEPTAs commitment to rooting out overtime fraud. next Police Academy class starting in July 2023. With 160 officers available at the time, 90 were assigned to the patrol division, which was then split into three shifts. The suspect was identified as Fiston M. Ngoy, 35, who had a preliminary arraignment last Thursday on charges of rape, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault and more, according to court. WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. But not only did [Kappler] lose their job, now theyre in the criminal justice system.. Omari Bervine, president of the FOP Lodge 109 the union for SEPTA transit police has pointed to understaffing as the root of this issue. Changes in the transit police pay scale will go into effect as early as Sunday, the agency said. Over the last year, SEPTA has hired unarmed guards and social outreach workersto monitor its facilities and work with vulnerable populations on trains. Riders of SEPTAs Market-Frankford Line have complained on social media of rampant disorder: smoking, open use of IV drugs, and human waste and garbage in stations and on trains. And he earned $116,000 in overtime, which is more than his annual salary. All rights reserved. Emergency Call Boxes in subway stations also put you in immediate contact with Transit Police. 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. SEPTA managers, cops earn double salaries amid agency fiscal crisis - WHYY Officials Investigate Video of SEPTA Police Hitting and Using Taser on Driving the news: SEPTA Police chief Thomas J. Nestel III signed off on the mandate for the transit agency's 213 sworn officers on Monday. Step one of the journey to become a Transit Police Officer. Police officer wages are heavily dependent on the cost of living in each state. The threat of crime has not helped in bringing the public back to routine use of SEPTA. Powered and implemented byFactSet Digital Solutions. And I think there are workers at SEPTA [who] wonder am I getting screwed over so that a manager can can get rich off of the system that doesnt really work in the favor of the average employee? Managed vacation time is pretty generous., Learn How to State Your Case and Earn Your Raise, Climb the Ladder With These Proven Promotion Tips, A Guide to Negotiating the Salary You Deserve, How to Prepare for Your Interview and Land the Job.