Ensure Concurrent Jurisdiction
BOSTON, MA – The Boston Herald recently reported that on August 6, 2013, a woman in the Seaport area of South Boston was taken to Newton where she was raped by a gypsy cab driver, who picked her up in front of a string of nightclubs on Northern Avenue. The public was not made aware of this terrible assault for 10 days, a glaring mistake that State Police spokesman David Procopio attributed to the ongoing dispute over whether the Boston Police Department should patrol the Seaport area which has traditionally been the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts State Police.
“My thoughts and prayers go out to the woman who suffered as a result of this heinous crime. It troubles me that the public, particularly women, were not made aware of this attack for ten days. Early this week, I met with Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis and his team to discuss taking the lead on legislation in the State House regarding concurrent jurisdiction. It is particularly alarming, in light of the recent violent attacks against women in the South Boston community, that this crime was not shared potentially because of jurisdictional issues between the Massachusetts State Police and the Boston Police Department,” said Senator Forry.
For the last eight years, former Senator Jack Hart and Mayor Thomas Menino have filed legislation on Beacon Hill that would allow concurrent jurisdiction by State and Boston Police however this bill has never been passed.
Senator Forry has taken on this issue and will continue to fight to ensure that the South Boston Seaport is safe for all residents, visitors and businesses. “This is a public safety issue that needs to be addressed immediately. We cannot have another incident hidden from the eyes of the public. I have been in touch with Mayor Menino and look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate. I am hopeful that this bill will be passed and signed into law before the end of the year.”
