The head of the state’s Registry of Motor Vehicles is looking to step up security at branches statewide, including hiring armed guards to quell potential outbreaks of violence.
“We want to protect our employees as best we can so they can do the public’s business,” said Registrar of Motor Vehicles Anne L. Collins. “We live in a time and age where everyone has to be on guard.”
Collins said the need for heightened security was underscored by an incident Friday in which a man allegedly threatened to line up and shoot employees at the agency’s Beverly branch. The man, Gary Woodbury, was reportedly upset he could not get a Massachusetts identification card without proof of residency.
No one was injured in the incident, but Collins said it raised concerns because state police are no longer a regular presence at RMV branches. Troopers stopped administering road tests for the Registry last summer.
Gov. Deval Patrick has included $1.4 million in his fiscal 2009 budget filing to improve security at RMV branches. The Registry must still await approval by the Legislature before it sees any of the money.
Collins said the cash would be used to pay for the security guards and other upgrades. She said new cameras and “panic buttons” have already been installed to allow RMV employees to immediately alert police in case of an incident.
There are no plans to provide weapons to rank-and-file employees, she said.
Registry employees routinely face angry customers because of requirements that they enforce a number of state laws. Collins said routine matters can become dicey when employees have to deny licenses to unregistered sex offenders or criminals with outstanding warrants.
“The Registry is a high volume office and . . . occasionally we get customers who don’t like to hear no for an answer,” she said.
DAmn Harry, I was mislead! I thought the title MEANT that RMV was going to SCREEN drivers license applicants to make sure they were LEGAL...silly me.
ma police, boston ma police, massachusetts police, massachusetts police, mass state police, mass police, ma, mass, massachusetts, massachusetts, massachutes, massachusetts law, massachusetts polece, police, officer, police officer, cops, police gear, law enforcement, police duty gear, state police, sheriff, law, police supply, police agency directory, police agency, police department, traffic officer, police dept, state trooper, dispatcher, massachusetts county sheriff, massachusetts sheriff, massachusetts department of corrections, ma doc, doc, dept of corrections, police information, civil service, ma civil service, massachusetts crime, police training, police academy, ma police academy, massachusetts officers, masscop, masscops, mpa, bpa, ibpoa, police association, massachusetts police news, massachusetts crime news, mass most wanted, police career information, police patrol, police administration, police books, crime scene training, police discussion, crime discussions, cops
About MassCops, the home for Massachusetts law enforcement.
The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network opened in 1998 and is now a part of the New England Police Network The site is a pro-police discussion forum intended for sworn police officers and civilian law enforcement officials as well as those interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement here in Massachusetts.
The goal of The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network is to provide an informal network of law enforcement officials here in Massachusetts for educational and informational purposes.
The forum covers many topics such as Police Related News Articles, Agency & Profession Discussions, Police Training as well as Law Enforcement Career Information.
The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network and The New England Police Network (NEPN) and it's network sites are privately owned websites/domains and are not affiliated with or endorsed by any government association or agency.
MassCops (masscops.com) and (masscop.com) are privately owned are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Massachusetts Coalition of Police (masscop.org)
ma police, boston ma police, massachusetts police, massachusetts police, mass state police, mass police, ma, mass, massachusetts, massachusetts, massachutes, massachusetts law, massachusetts polece, police, officer, police officer, cops, police gear, law enforcement, police duty gear, state police, sheriff, law, police supply, police agency directory, police agency, police department, traffic officer, police dept, state trooper, dispatcher, massachusetts county sheriff, massachusetts sheriff, massachusetts department of corrections, ma doc, doc, dept of corrections, police information, civil service, ma civil service, massachusetts crime, police training, police academy, ma police academy, massachusetts officers, masscop, masscops, mpa, bpa, ibpoa, police association, massachusetts police news, massachusetts crime news, mass most wanted, police career information, police patrol, police administration, police books, crime scene training, police discussion, crime discussions, cops