State Police Scandal Update: GPS On Cruisers, Troop E Disbanded

BOSTON, MA — All 1,087 marked State patrol cruisers will have a GPS system activated in their cruisers, and members of Troop E, the group of State Police the State is investigating for overtime fraud, were officially disbanded Wednesday, Governor Charlie Baker and Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin announced.

“While progress has been made to install new technology, eliminate excess overtime shifts and determine the appropriate staffing levels for the Turnpike and Logan Airport, there is much work to be done to improve efficiencies and policies at the State Police. I commend Colonel Gilpin for her leadership and we will keep working with the State Police to bring lasting reforms to this Department,” said Governor Charlie Baker in a statement.

The news comes a month after Baker and Gilpin promised to repair the reputation of the state’s largest law enforcement agency with reforms such as the GPS monitoring. In addition to the tracking devices on cars, and the disbanding of the Troop, the two promised quarterly audits for the top 50 earners within the department, an effort to make sure that they stick to the rules on limits on hours every day and week. The audits will be public, according to a release from the Baker administration. And face-to-face roll calls will also be introduced for MassPike shifts at all barracks.

The changes focus on increasing transparency, accountability and efficiency of the 2,200-member force, said Gilpin.

Those former Troop E barracks were pulled into Troops B, C, and H, which cover the Turnpike. Signage and license plates for 179 marked cruisers referring to Troop E have been removed, according to officials.

Also: When it comes to recruiting new troopers, the state is adding questions ask about potential involvement by the candidate in any criminal investigation, even if the candidate was not charged with a crime.

See all the details here: Gov. Charlie Baker's Announcement.

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Previously on Patch:

State Police's Latest Controversy Could Be Criminal

State Police Reforms: Troop Eliminated, Body Cams, More

State Police No. 2 Retires After Boss Does

File photo of a state police cruiser near the airport by Jenna Fisher/Patch