Philadelphia City Councilman David Oh has lately pressured SEPTA to make the changes necessary to fill out its transit police force. Septa pays its employees an average of $27.63 an hour. City Council is scheduled to hold a May 3 hearing on SEPTA's budget. 90. Those seem like really obvious questions, Kriz said. That being said last year, SEPTA faced a federal investigation into alleged fraudulent spending involving roughly a dozen managers who were working with an outside vendor to embezzle money using SEPTAs credit cards. PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It's the largest salary increase for SEPTA transit police officers in more than 20 years. In two additional incidents in April, at 30th Street Station and Berks Station on the Market-Frankford Line, two people were pushed onto the subway tracks. SEPTA Transit Police officer wears a face mask in Center City Philadelphia, PA on May 8, 2020. Im just dumbfounded, Robert Strauss, a professor of economics and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University, said of the spending. 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. How much do Septa employees make? For veteran officers, the rate for pay bumps is also being accelerated. They reached agreement on raises after about six weeks of talks. On the construction and maintenance side, it could be responding to signal issues that come up, or emergency track work that needs to be performed.. 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. How much does Septa pay? 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. On the. Septa employees with the job title Bus . Read what they think about their salaries on our Compensation FAQ page for , Get started with your Free Employer Profile, Bus Operator salaries - 36 salaries reported, Project Engineer salaries - 9 salaries reported, Project Manager salaries - 8 salaries reported, Transportation Manager salaries - 7 salaries reported, Bus Driver salaries - 7 salaries reported, Signal Maintainer salaries - 7 salaries reported, Engineer I salaries - 7 salaries reported, Assistant Conductor salaries - 7 salaries reported, Railroad Conductor salaries - 6 salaries reported, Maintenance Custodian salaries - 6 salaries reported, Locomotive Engineer salaries - 5 salaries reported, Customer Service Representative salaries - 5 salaries reported, Operations Manager salaries - 5 salaries reported, Assistant Director salaries - 4 salaries reported, Senior Project Engineer salaries - 4 salaries reported, Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health. Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority pays $42,010 a year, on average, or $20.2 an hour. Its no secret to us that the top echelon of managers get more overtime, weve been seeing that and living that, he said. He suggested other infrastructure changes that would reduce crime: low-income fare programs, improved lighting and mural art to make stations more welcoming, and having more vendors at or around stations. Billy Joel & Stevie Nicks floor seat tickets, Regional rail stations were nearly empty in the wake of the coronavirus shutdown. *Must possess a high school diploma or GED, *Must pass the Pennsylvania State (MPOETC) physical fitness requirements. On the amount of overtime some SEPTA managers are taking home. 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. And he earned $116,000 in overtime, which is more than his annual salary. https://t.co/8V9wGa9R57 pic.twitter.com/LUu12tif2w. Together we can reach 100% of WHYYs fiscal year goal. Related Searches:All Septa Police Officer Salaries|All Septa Salaries. 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. pic.twitter.com/ZJWy9sZedj. Officers will also attend an additional 40 hours of training annually to retain their certification. 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. Date: October 25, 2020. in: Breaking News, Civil Rights, Sacramento Region. How accurate is this most likely Total Pay range (base + additional) of $50K-$74K/yr? He wrote a letter to the SEPTA board in November, after a woman was raped on the Market-Frankford line, breaking down how the staff shortage has affected the system. that they couldnt really afford to pay a death benefit to each of the families who lost someone. But some rank-and-file maintenance staff also saw claims that raised questions at the very least, about worker safety. Yet nearly half of these 800 employees earned more than 50% of their base pay in overtime, and about 45 men earned as much or considerably more than their annual salary. Sign up for the free Billy Penn newsletter to get everything you need to know about Philadelphia, every day. As the transit police struggled with understaffing, union officials pointed to pay as a major sticking point in recruiting, with salaries for SEPTA transit police officers falling $10-15k below Philadelphia Police Department and NJ Transit police salaries. 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. Nearly 220+ officers serve and protect within the 2,200 square-mile SEPTA service area. SEPTA increases starting salaries for its police officers by 25%. The union that represents SEPTA workers fought for a $500,000 death benefit a payout that New Yorks MTA provided over the summer. When it comes to the real work that needs to be done on the floor, overtime always seems to be limited., SEPTA: Dire finances prevent agency from paying out COVID death benefits. 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. Recruits will attend an accredited municipal police officer's training course (PA Act 120) immediately upon hire. The "Most Likely Range" represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role. 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. The SEPTA Transit Watch app, available for Mac IOS and Android, lets you report incidents in seconds. WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The highest earner was SEPTA Transit Police Lt. Michael Wright, who racked up $116,636 in overtime, pushing his total salary to $211,895. Just this week, a SEPTA manager was arrested over an alleged overtime fraud scheme. 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. Investigators had said Adams was known to frequent the area around 13th and Market streets. Published Jun 14, 2022. 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. Homicides and rapes were rare, and thefts fell 18% during that period. There are three patrol districts, allowing officers to easily respond to emergencies while empowering them to quickly make decisions and address local issues. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY). Responsible for personal safety and is encouraged to promote the safety of others. 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. January 13, 2021 / 10:06 AM / CBS Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Seven members of the SEPTA Police are under investigation after they attended last week's pro-Trump rally in Washington,. Busch said overtime spending was already down in the current fiscal year as SEPTA heads into a critical financial crisis tied to COVID-19. (Photo by Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images). Then, who knows, the manager goes out [to] breakfast, he said. Spokesperson Andrew Busch chalked both police and maintenance spending up to the nature of public transit, where crime or infrastructure problems could strike at any time and staff needed to be ready to work long shifts. The union said the goal of the salary increases was to be more competitive with pay "in an effort to boost our dangerously low officer staffing levels" at SEPTA. The officers union has long pressed that case to management. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. So, for example, SEPTA police officer Lt. Michael Wright earned more overtime than anyone else on SEPTA staff. Police Officers salaries on the level of Police Departments throughout the Philadelphia region. They would like to see more programs with that mindset implemented systemwide not just pilots, and not at select stations. The other five members are appointed by elected officials in Harrisburg, one by the governor and one each by the majority and. The authority replaced them with Glock 17s, which arrived after a delay. Complies with all Authority and departmental safety and security policies and procedures as well as all applicable job safety responsibilities. Two other SEPTA cops, Officer Floyd Whitaker and Sgt. DESPITE INFLATION, US LABOR FORCE SEEING ENCOURAGING SIGNS: ECONOMIST. 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. Call SEPTA Transit Police at (215) 580-8111 or text (215) 234-1911. A sweeping pay increase in SEPTA's fight to improve safety as transit police officers brace for the largest salary boost in two decades. This arrangement has allowed a cadre of mid-level construction and maintenance managers to catapult their salaries to among the highest in the organization. Eltor Sumpter, also earned about as much or more than the top transit law enforcement official. A 29-year-old man was stabbed in the arm at Suburban Station during a confrontation during the early morning hours on Saturday. 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 No arrests have been made in either incident. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession. A SEPTA spokesperson says this increase shows SEPTA is committed to doing everything it can to make the system safe. The authority's private security contractors have not been as effective as hoped in improving the situation during the pandemic. Several high-profile incidents rocked the system last year, including a rape on a train that was caught on camera, a brutal attack by teens on a student of Asian descent, and shootings near or inside several busy transit hubs. SEPTA provides outstanding benefit and retirement programs: Medical Benefits Current HMO annual premium contribution = 1.5% of 40-hour hourly rate. 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. That leaves 150 to 160 patrol personnel, he said, and many of them are assigned to specialized units rather than to walk beats. 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. Want a digest of WHYYs programs, events & stories? These units receive an additional level of training and provide specialized support in policing a public transit system. The job of a SEPTA transit officer can be dangerous, too. 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. Rampant overtime spending. for the next Police Academy class starting in July 2023. It is almost half the previous pay scale's rate of Ksh 36,000. 2023 Flower Show Weekend Extra Regional Rail Train Service, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Serving Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. Worse thing is taking so long to get to it., Very minimal what you have to pay and that includes family plan. Not too many places still have a pension plan. In recent years, Nestel pulled back from fare evasion to concentrate on issues considered more serious and useful to system-wide safety, and repurposed the hashtag to those pursuits. #SEPTAnews @SEPTAPHILLY @SEPTA_SOCIAL 1:58 1.7K views Thomas J. Nestel III Retweeted As a matter of fact, I hope it will help," Lynn Watson said. FOX Business' Jeff Flock with more. My hope is that they take a real good look at the top of the SEPTA pyramid, their policies, Coyne said. Step one of the journey to become a Transit Police Officer. The highest-paying job at Septa is a Project Manager with a salary of $111,809 per year. Transit Police did. The fundraiser aims to raise $1,000 to help pay for SEPTA Key cards for asylum-seekers who recently arrived in Philadelphia from Texas. The starting salary for a SEPTA police officer is $18 per hour. And some employees earn nearly twice what their peers make for doing the same job. Our weekly newsletter delivers original reporting on the people, places and things that make Philly. 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. But that didnt stop them from spending what experts say is an unusually large amount of money on overtime. PHILADELPHIA MASS SHOOTING: VICTIMS IDENTIFIED BY POLICE, INCLUDING MENTOR TO YOUNG BOYS. So the unions specifically asked for a $500,000 death benefit for [Teds family] and all of the families who lost a SEPTA employee. 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. SEPTA is a state agency, but its ridership is overwhelmingly from Philly. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. In a series of public hearings, one of the solutions mentioned was to create a professional transit police force. It also stretches into two other states, New Jersey and Delaware. "One of the biggest problems that we've had in terms of rider safety and the safety of the public is that police were leaving," Philadelphia City Councilmember David Oh said. Nestel referred all questions to SEPTA public relations. Also on Sunday, at 15th Street Station, a man was robbed at gunpoint an incident Bervine said was "overshadowed" by the amount of crime SEPTA saw over the weekend. Be contacted by a dispatcher to obtain additional information. 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? As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Nestel is a fourth-generation police officer. There are three patrol districts, allowing officers to easily respond to emergencies while empowering them to quickly make decisions and address local issues. 00:00 / 01:17. View Jobs at Septa. According to SEPTA, the department is down 50 transit officers. The authoritys budget allows for up to 260 officers. Fundraiser created to front the cost of SEPTA Key cards for asylum-seekers. Rookies who have graduated from the police academy will . "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. All rights reserved. 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? He threatened to withhold $10 million from the $100 million City Council gives SEPTA in order for changes to be made. Mid-level managers pull in more money than executives. Trivia quiz: How much do you know about Philadelphia? 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. "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. This employer has claimed their Employer Profile and is engaged in the Glassdoor community. Has anyone else stood behind Thomas Nestel and thought, "Exactly HOW bleeping wide are those shoulders?" SEPTA highlights signs of human trafficking in new campaign. RYAN: I think that when you you look at these stories, you look at SEPTA saying, We just dont have the money to pay out death benefits. You look where SEPTA is headed because of COVID-19 into an area where theyre saying we might have to make critical service cuts and potentially layoffs. When a position becomes available, candidates will be selected from this list of applicants. Download the SEPTA App from the Apple Store, Download the Transit Watch App from the Apple Store, Threatening Items Prohibited on SEPTA Property. 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. $56,507 annually - Starting rate for six months at the Police Academy $62,379 annually - After academy to 12 months of service $71,011 annually - 13 to 24 months of service $74,588 annually - After 24 months of service Top Pay $82,722 He said his organization applauds SEPTAs recent efforts to engage social workers. Get your daily rundown of Philly happenings in less than 10 minutes, Philadelphia local news: Neighborhoods, politics, food, and fun, Get Philly smart with BPs free daily newsletter. Together we can reach 100% of WHYYs fiscal year goal. 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 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. That includes stepped-up investments in social-service workers and security guards. All rights reserved. Since 1981, the SEPTA Transit Police Department has been dedicated to keeping customers safe and secure, while protecting SEPTA property and staff. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided byRefinitiv Lipper. SEPTA Transit Police have full police powers in those areas, which spans 2,200 square miles. If the incentives are put into place that people have the ability to do that, Kriz said, then we would expect some potential at least for self-serving behavior.. SEPTA police officers gathered outside Temple University Hospital in early April after a transit officer was shot and wounded in Frankford. Due to an accident on N Capitol St at Florida Ave NW, buses are experiencing delays. The average Sheriff/Police Chief salary in Berlin, NJ is $122,555 as of January 26, 2023, but the range typically falls between $115,725 and $130,001. As of 2020, the starting salary for State Troopers is $69,542. Septa employees rate the overall compensation and benefits package 4.1/5 stars. 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%. Subscribe for the why behind this story and others that matter in the Philly region. Theres no timeline in place for selecting Nestels permanent replacement and no indication of public engagement in the process but the authority will consider internal and external candidates, Busch said. Tahmir Banks, of the unit block of Beverly Avenue in East Lansdowne, was arrested and charged Friday with murder, gun violations, and related . The SEPTA Police Department offers an excellent benefits package, and a starting salary of $43,856 for Academy recruits. NBC10 hires Fred Shropshire to replace Jim Rosenfield as weekday evening anchor. FAQ - New Privacy Policy. 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. Hourly pay at Septa ranges from an average of $18.44 to $41.41 an hour. 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. The Transit Police Department extends beyond the regular beat with units of specially trained officers. Michael Tanenbaum Asked about the case, Busch said he cannot comment on ongoing litigation. 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. Its how we live. This posting is for FUTURETransit Police Officer openings in our Transit Police Department. 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. You see that the people above you dont care.. One SEPTA police officer doubled his salary and made almost as much as the mayor of Philadelphia. / CBS Philadelphia. The lowest-paying job at Septa is a Customer Service Representative with a salary of $36,718 per year. The extra working hours boosted all three mens salaries to around $165,000, putting them on the same pay rung as executives like Regional Rail director John Lauser or inspector general David Bannan. .css-r1m4lw{background-color:#20262e;border-radius:50%;}.css-r1m4lw > svg > path{fill:#fff;}Add your salary. Learn more about Social Responsibility at WHYY. An entry-level SEPTA transit police officer will earn about $46,000 per year, a salary that increases to just more than $49,000 after graduation from the police academy. SEPTA Police Officers salaries on the level of Police Departments throughout the Philadelphia region. All rights reserved. The FOP Lodge 109, the union for transit police, announced a vote of no confidence in Nestel in March of last year. On the maintenance side, he said a string of maintenance crises and extreme weather incidents had necessitated the divisions overtime use. In April 2021, it entered a $1.5 million agreement with Allied Universal Security Services. Under the agreement, both new recruits and officers already on the force will see a pay hike. But former SEPTA employees, like Chris Coyne, werent so sure. The agency is mulling massive service cuts and recently declined to pay out additional death benefits to workers that succumbed to the virus. 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. 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. large amount of money on overtime. SEPTA managers, cops earn double salaries with overtime as agency battles fiscal crisis. SEPTAs Recruitment Department is currently accepting applications for the position of Transit Police Officer. Union leaders did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the plan. 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. The increase is within SEPTA's budget so riders should not expect fairs to go up. Get a free, personalized salary estimate based on today's job market. An entry-level SEPTA transit police officer will earn about $46,000 per year, a salary that increases to just more than $49,000 after graduation from the police academy. Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority pays those in the bottom 10 percent $24,000 a year, and the top 10 percent over $72,000. Podcast: Is Sixers' prime time game vs. And now were seeing this sketchy [overtime] system where theyre paying out excessive amounts to a handful of employees. The perennial child pleaser is 31 years old, but will only run on the Broad Street line this year. That program lasted about two years, but didnt survive a round of budget cuts. SEPTA is mandating transit officers work two hours of overtime per shift during the holidays. [But SEPTA said] that they couldnt really afford to pay a death benefit to each of the families who lost someone. 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. (Instead of a paywall). WHYY provides trustworthy, fact-based, local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community. PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The union for SEPTA's transit police has sent a third letter to the agency's board chairman and general manager about the need to hire more officers. Bervine did not respond to Billy Penns request for comment for this story. SEPTA has seen a spike in criminal activity and violence along its routes in recent years. Officers routinely patrol SEPTA vehicles and stations. A transit police officer waits for the Broad Street Line to stop at Erie station, so he can rouse a homeless person sleeping on the train in Philadelphia, PA, on April 1, 2020. Leave a comment. So to fill in the gaps, the Transit Workers Union, Local 234 (thats the chapter of the union that includes most drivers, other blue collar workers), they spent like $8,000 on hand sanitizer in April, another $11,000 on masks in May. Municipal finance experts say that, generally, overtime claims in excess of 20% of a base salary indicate a systemic problem. GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE. The new salaries are expected to be in place by June 19. It's been difficult to recruit people to join.