The Port Authority Police Department files disciplinary charges against police supervisors

The Port Authority Police Department (PAPD) of New Work & New Jersey has initiated disciplinary proceedings against 11 Port Authority Police supervisors for failure to appropriately oversee officers in the PATH Command to ensure they were properly on patrol or on post, the PANYNJ said in its press release.

The charges follow disciplinary actions taken against 44 Port Authority police officers by the Port Authority’s Inspector General’s Office – most of whom served in the PATH Command – who were accused of improperly being in break rooms when they were supposed to be on patrol or on post.

The PATH Command is responsible for round-the-clock coverage of the PATH system, which serves nearly 80 million passengers annually. The PATH PAPD Command patrols seven PATH stations in New Jersey and six PATH stations in Manhattan, south of 34th Street.

The investigation that led to the charges against the patrol officers and supervisors began in May 2016 when the Port Authority’s Chief Security Office became aware that numerous officers were off post, which prompted further investigation. This concern was forwarded to the Office of the Inspector General, whose investigation, supported by video evidence, uncovered serious misconduct. The misconduct stemmed from officers failing to perform patrol duties as required during their work shifts, primarily but not limited to the midnight to 8 a.m. shift.

The 11 PAPD supervisors – six lieutenants and five sergeants – are charged with failure to supervise officers in accordance with PAPD protocol.

All 11 cases now move to the next phase of the process, and the Port Authority Police Department supervisors are presumed innocent until their cases have been adjudicated.

To date, none of the cases have been settled.