Port Authority: 44 PATH Officers Accused Of Missing Patrols, ‘Shirking Duties’

The Port Authority of NY/NJ has initiated disciplinary action against 44 of its police officers accused of “shirking duties” by staying in break rooms and missing patrols while on the clock.

According to a Port Authority statement released Wednesday, the accused officers make up about one-third of the PATH rail system’s command, which is responsible for around-the-clock coverage protection for nearly 80 million passengers per year in New Jersey and New York.

Port Authority officials said that in May, while conducting routine inspections, the Chief Security Officer’s Quality Assurance & Inspections (QAI) unit became aware that numerous officers were “obviously off-post,” which prompted further investigation.

The inspectors’ concerns were referred to the Office of the Inspector General, whose investigation, supported by video evidence, “uncovered serious transgressions,” officials stated.

The Inspector General’s Office is currently evaluating whether certain cases should be referred to local prosecutors, Port Authority officials said.

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According to the Port Authority, the internal probe originated at the Hoboken PATH station and eventually also focused on officers assigned to details at several stations in New Jersey and New York, including Newark, Christopher Street, 33rd Street and the World Trade Center.

The alleged transgressions include officers “failing to perform patrol duties as required during their work shifts,” primarily during the midnight to 8 a.m. shift, authorities said.

Investigators allege that several officers spent more than six hours of their shift in a break room. In one case, an officer spent more than seven hours of a shift away from his post, Port Authority officials said.

“Some of the suspected officers were assigned on overtime to heightened security details due to terror events that had occurred nationally and internationally,” Port Authority officials stated. “In some instances, officers assigned to doubled up posts in response to officer safety concerns were also observed off-post.”

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According to authorities, the PATH’s top police commander was reassigned in November in the wake of the review. All 44 cases are pending and no officers to date have settled any disciplinary charges against them.

“The allegations against these officers are extremely serious and we believe they have let down the public they are sworn to serve,’’ Inspector General Michael Nestor said. “We will seek to take significant action against those officers who violated the public trust.”

PAPD Superintendent Michael Fedorko’s office is involved in determining the disciplinary action that will be taken against the officers, authorities said.

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File Photo (pictured officers are not necessarily among the accused): Port Authority of NY/NJ