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Main Page Col. Robbins Retiring.....has a new job!
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Posted by: cc3915

Head of State Police resigns to head BU's force

By Glen Johnson, AP Political Writer | April 11, 2006

BOSTON --Col. Thomas Robbins, the head of the Massachusetts State Police, has decided to retire and will become police chief at Boston University, the school announced Tuesday.

Robbins will oversee a department of 42 officers at the fourth-largest private university in the country. He will also follow a string of top State Police officials who have migrated to high-paying jobs in local higher education, including former Col. John DiFava, now police chief at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The police departments at Harvard, Boston College, Holy Cross and Curry College are also headed by former top-ranking officials at the State Police, who are not only intimately familiar with the Massachusetts law enforcement community, but are often cross-trained in management and special weapons and tactics.

In addition to salaries that can run in the $150,000 range, the chiefs can qualify for free tuition for their children, further boosting their benefits package. At the same time, colonels, majors and other leaders reach their maximum pension after 25 years with the State Police, providing little additional incentive to continue working at what troopers affectionately refer to as "the job."

"Colonel Robbins brings extensive experience and outstanding law-enforcement expertise to our ever-growing campus and to the increasingly complex security challenges in our world today," said a statement issued by Peter Fiedler, BU's vice president for administrative services.

In the same statement, Robbins said: "Policing of large universities has become increasingly complex over the past few decades, requiring highly professional police personnel to meet this growing demand."

The Boston University campus spreads across 132 acres and encompasses 31,000 students and 9,300 faculty and staff. Robbins will begin his new job June 12. Gov. Mitt Romney, who appointed Robbins, is empowered to name a replacement, but none was immediately announced.

In June 2004, Robbins became the 11th person to hold the state police's dual leadership titles of colonel and superintendent, overseeing a force of 2,350 sworn personnel and 435 support staff.

Widely respected by the rank and file as an up-by-the-bootstraps leader, Robbins has been in the spotlight recently dealing with the fallout from reports of hazing and a high dropout rate at the State Police Academy. He appointed a panel in October to investigate, and it concluded the training school had an ill-defined chain of command and poor communication.

The BU Police Department, meanwhile, recently agreed to repay the City of Boston after eight of its officers were trained for free at the city's police academy.

When he swore in Robbins, Romney touted the then-major's homeland security credentials.

Robbins had been named security commander at Logan International Airport soon after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, in which two airliners were hijacked from Boston. He also headed the State Police during the 2004 Democratic National Convention, which posed a major security challenge for both Boston and the state.

Robbins, 48, of Merrimac, is a former Marine Corps sergeant who entered the State Police Academy in 1979 and graduated first in his class of 50. He joined the force in 1980. He served as an instructor and commandant at the academy, supervisor of the North Shore Anti-Gang Violence Unit, and station commander at the Andover barracks. The Northeastern University graduate also earned a master's degree at Westfield State College and a law degree at Suffolk University Law School.

Posted by: bbelichick

Buh-Bye.

Posted by: Dr.Magoo

I think he may have been respected before he became Col. Haven't heard much good since then.

Also, the next Col. will be another short-termer, since we will have a new Gov. come January.

Posted by: irish937

Any ideas on who the new Colonel might be?

Posted by: cc3915

Quote:

Originally Posted by irish937

Any ideas on who the new Colonel might be?

It could be Col. Noyes. If he leaves too, then how about Col. Tommy Walsh? That's all I'm hearing right now.

Posted by: tarc

I've heard it might be Colonel Harlin Sanders?

Posted by: kwflatbed

How about Colonel BB

Posted by: cc3915

Quote:

Originally Posted by tarc

I've heard it might be Colonel Harlin Sanders?

LOL...it just might be. He'd have to shave his beard and mustache though.

Posted by: Pvt. Cowboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by tarc

I've heard it might be Colonel Harlin Sanders?

10 points for you... totally beat me to it...

"No Colonel Sanders, YOU'RE wrong... mama's right!!"

What movie?!?! C'mon ladies...

Posted by: djbfc

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pvt. Cowboy

10 points for you... totally beat me to it...

"No Colonel Sanders, YOU'RE wrong... mama's right!!"

What movie?!?! C'mon ladies...

Water Boy! It's a classic!!!!!!

Posted by: HousingCop

Bobby Boucher: My Mama says that alligators are ornery because they got all them teeth and no toothbrush.

Mama Boucher: Bobby, deh ever catch dat gorilla that busted outa da zoo and punched you in da eye?
Bobby Boucher: No Mama, the search continues.

Posted by: mtc

Quote:

Originally Posted by cc3915

It could be Col. Noyes. If he leaves too, then how about Col. Tommy Walsh? That's all I'm hearing right now.

Walsh rules!

Posted by: bbelichick

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtc

Walsh rules!

Just curious...Why do you say that?

Posted by: mpd61

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbelichick

Just curious...Why do you say that?

Ha! Ha!
You? just curious? in regards to someones opinion about an MSP leader?

Posted by: dcs2244

They're all a bunch of political hacks...in two words, "pickle washers"...until the ranks above captain are earned by exam, there will be no legitimate leaders in the command staff...except be accident.

Posted by: cc3915

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcs2244

They're all a bunch of political hacks...in two words, "pickle washers"...until the ranks above captain are earned by exam, there will be no legitimate leaders in the command staff...except be accident.

Especially in this case. Lame duck Gov = Lame Duck Col. Although if Healy/Hillman make the pick he/she could stay after the elections if they win. Who knows.....

Posted by: SinePari

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcs2244

Just like the military. Up to Cpt is automatic, after that it's about promoting friends vs who deserves it.

Posted by: bbelichick

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpd61

Ha! Ha!
You? just curious? in regards to someones opinion about an MSP leader?

Sure. I would like to know how he came to that conclusion.

Posted by: PBC FL Cop

Maybe Guy Glodis, he could bring his new Mobile command sheriffabago with him!!

Posted by: Mitpo62

I was still at MIT when John DiFava came on board in '02. MSP's loss was truly our gain. Quite a stand up guy and great leader!

Posted by: bbelichick

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitpo62

I was still at MIT when John DiFava came on board in '02. MSP's loss was truly our gain. Quite a stand up guy and great leader!

A truly great man and a great leader. I have an immense amount of respect for Colonel DiFava.

Posted by: pickels

Well we know there won't be any openings at BUPD for awhile, Robbins will hire all the troopers that retire looking for a "supplemental job".

Nothing against troopers, but that's the way politics go.

Posted by: mtc

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbelichick

Just curious...Why do you say that?

Then Major "Tommy" Walsh was our troop commander, very supportive, treated us with respect, instead of like bastard children as some of the command staff do.

Civilians, you know.

Posted by: cc3915

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtc

Then Major "Tommy" Walsh was our troop commander, very supportive, treated us with respect, instead of like bastard children as some of the command staff do.

Civilians, you know.

Lt. Col. Walsh would make a great Colonel. He's great for Field Services. I'm hearing he doesn't want it though, but you know how rumors go. Maj. Kelly is another name being thrown around (maybe for Deputy).

Posted by: Pacman

Quote:

Originally Posted by cc3915

The police departments at Harvard, Boston College, Holy Cross and Curry College are also headed by former top-ranking officials at the State Police, who are not only intimately familiar with the Massachusetts law enforcement community, but are often cross-trained in management and special weapons and tactics.

LMFAO!!! Intimately familiar? Is this person delusional? They are political hacks that can no more be called cops than a mall security guard. And since when are all State Police trained in Special Weapons and Tactics??? OMG! This just made my day.

Posted by: bbelichick

I'm no fan of Robbins, but he was a member of the STOP team.

And you can't say that "can no more be called cops than a mall security guard:, that is BS. Although they are coming from management, every one of the Brass came from the rank and file, unlike the Ed Flynn politically appointed types.

Posted by: Killjoy

Quote:

And you can't say that "can no more be called cops than a mall security guard:, that is BS. Although they are coming from management, every one of the Brass came from the rank and file, unlike the Ed Flynn politically appointed types.

He also has a juris doctorate and was a commisioned officer in the Marines...he's not exactly a "mall security guard".

Posted by: Dane

Quote:

LMFAO!!! Intimately familiar? Is this person delusional? They are political hacks that can no more be called cops than a mall security guard.

Posted by: topcop50

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickels

Well we know there won't be any openings at BUPD for awhile, Robbins will hire all the troopers that retire looking for a "supplemental job".

Nothing against troopers, but that's the way politics go.

Robbins' hiring won't affect hiring at BUPD. No retired State Trooper wants to go to a university and chase kids around for petty shit. Retired Staties go to universities for brass positions, not patrolman positions.

Posted by: mtc

Quote:

Originally Posted by topcop50

They do enough chasing the drunken, stoned, disrespectfull snots while they're troopers.

Posted by: Mitpo62

I don't know about that. We had quite a few retired Troopers at the 'Tute. And they had a blast!

Quote:

Originally Posted by topcop50

Posted by: LA Copper

I've always been curious, why is he called a "colonel" and not chief or superintendent?

Posted by: Wolfman

Probably has something to do with the eagle on his lapel pins...

Posted by: new guy

Quote:

Originally Posted by topcop50

I'm guessing that you never worked for a large Urban University. There's a lot more than petty shit that goes on.

Posted by: bbelichick

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA Copper

I've always been curious, why is he called a "colonel" and not chief or superintendent?

He has the rank of Colonel, but also the title of Superintendant.

Posted by: LA Copper

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfman

Probably has something to do with the eagle on his lapel pins...

Now why didn't I think of that....

Posted by: SPD3

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA Copper

I've always been curious, why is he called a "colonel" and not chief or superintendent?

Because the MSP was and is modeled after the United States Military and its command structure. Barracks were designed to be approximately the size of a platoon, troops the size of a company, and so forth. The size of the department, between 1000-3000 men and women, would historically have been equivalent to a brigade or regiment and thus commanded by a colonel.

Happy Easter.

Posted by: LA Copper

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPD3

Alrighty, thank you. And Happy Easter to you too.

Posted by: Killjoy

Of course sometimes I get a kick out of some small-town chief with 2 guys under his command wearing 4 stars like he's General MacArthur...

Posted by: k9sheriff

Should I give an estimate of how many retired MSP officers work for my department?Better save it for another forum.Maybe the fair thing to do would be to have an election by all the MSP rank and file?Allright , send the insults, i'm ready

Posted by: no$.10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killjoy

Of course sometimes I get a kick out of some small-town chief with 2 guys under his command wearing 4 stars like he's General MacArthur...

I always get a kick out of that.

Posted by: dcs2244

The last real leader of the MSP was a general: Otis Whitney...of course, that was before most of you were born.

Posted by: firefighter39

I would think that this trend of having ex-MSP leaders become campus chiefs would be demoralizing to the campus officers - It seems like they (the campus officers) will never have a chance at the chief job. I was just wondering how they feel about this.

I don't mean this as anything against the ex-MSP bosses, I know they are well qualified, but it would just seem that there should be someone from with-in the campus poloce community that is also capable of doing the job

Posted by: dcs2244

MIT tried to promote from within...Ann Glavin...guess it didn't work out.

Posted by: Killjoy

Quote:

I have to agree with you, I'm sure that campus policing has its own unique challenges, and it would seem best to promote those from within who are familiar with the environment.

Posted by: dcs2244

I don't think its a big deal for most. When I worked campus police, the young folks, mostly, were looking at getting on public departments. The rest of the people were retired state and local folks looking for their forty quarters. It was a good deal for everyone: the young guys got the benefit of the older guys years of experience and the college got the benefit of maturity from the older guys (and the retired guys got their forty)...it made a nice balance...nothing got "out-of-hand": The kids loved us because we took care of them...it wasn't the typical campus hate fest with the rudents.

From my experience, the directors/chiefs inhabit a small clique and move from job to job in the campus police universe...chief of RIT today, chief of Rutgers tomorrow...

Posted by: Mitpo62

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcs2244

MIT tried to promote from within...Ann Glavin...guess it didn't work out.

Eeeeek! Seeing that name makes me shake and shudder!

Posted by: dcs2244

Yeah, crime prevention sergeant to chief in one swell foop! Ah well, I never had a problem with her...The retired troopers used to refer to her as "bottle a$$" or "sergeant and a half". Kinda cruel, maybe...but funny, in a police sort of way!

Posted by: cc3915

I received good info that last week LTC John Kelly, Maj Michael Concannon, Maj Mark Delaney, Maj Thomas McGilvray, and Maj Robert Smith interviewed for the Colonel's position.

Posted by: RPD931

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitpo62

Eeeeek! Seeing that name makes me shake and shudder!

On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate her?

Are ALL of those interviewees "good" candidates to take over MSP?

Posted by: The Duke

Well according to her all"former state police officers on the job were"DINOSAUR'S", so i ask you how would YOU rate her.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPD931

On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate her?

Are ALL of those interviewees "good" candidates to take over MSP?

Posted by: PBC FL Cop

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcs2244

it made a nice balance...nothing got "out-of-hand": The kids loved us because we took care of them...it wasn't the typical campus hate fest with the rudents.

Which is what campus policing should be, IMHO...

Posted by: dcs2244

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Duke

Well according to her all"former state police officers on the job were"DINOSAUR'S", so i ask you how would YOU rate her.

Duke, it wasn't just the former troopers, but the former local and met guys that she considered "dinosaurs"...basically any former cops not from a campus environment.
They in turn did not respect her, as they knew her rank (sergeant) was the result of political connections at the 'tute. She had no supervisory experience (unlike all the other sergeants, it wasn't part of her job as the crime prevention person)...so you can just imagine the reactions of msp captains/staff sergeants and Boston detective sergeants to being given 'orders': her style was autocratic, a martinet. They laughed right in her face and ignored her (they had her fill in for a vacationing sergeant on the dog watch for a week...an event that did not occur again). Hence, you can understand her animosity concerning troopers, as they were the largest and most "vocal" group

Posted by: The Duke

Amen to that,well she's california's problem now !

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcs2244

Posted by: Mitpo62

My hats off to Kathleen O'Toole for helping to "repair" that problem too!

Posted by: BU Observer

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickels

Well we know there won't be any openings at BUPD for awhile, Robbins will hire all the troopers that retire looking for a "supplemental job".

Nothing against troopers, but that's the way politics go.

BUPD positions are only really availble to those who know somebody.

Posted by: Vader

Quote:

Originally Posted by BU Observer

BUPD positions are only really availble to those who know somebody.

You mean like the new Chief???

Posted by: BU Observer

Quote:

Originally Posted by new guy

I'm guessing that you never worked for a large Urban University. There's a lot more than petty shit that goes on.

Like what? Stolen book bags, and student pranks. Thats exciting! NOT.

Posted by: BU Observer

Quote:

Originally Posted by firefighter39

I would think that this trend of having ex-MSP leaders become campus chiefs would be demoralizing to the campus officers - It seems like they (the campus officers) will never have a chance at the chief job. I was just wondering how they feel about this.

I don't mean this as anything against the ex-MSP bosses, I know they are well qualified, but it would just seem that there should be someone from with-in the campus poloce community that is also capable of doing the job

BU led Bobby Molloy to believe he was a finalist, but they wouldn't hire him. BU cant compete with MIT academics, but they have enough $$ to hire taleted MSP brass and advertise it.

Posted by: BU Observer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killjoy

I have to agree with you, I'm sure that campus policing has its own unique challenges, and it would seem best to promote those from within who are familiar with the environment.

Its nothing for someone who commanded the MSP, and the pay is damn good!

Posted by: BU Observer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vader

You mean like the new Chief???

Not the chief thats a management/publicity post, but Everyone else, of course.

Posted by: BU Observer

Hope Robbins has the stones to fire Pat Nuzzi

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