August 25, 2005
NEW STATE POLICE BARRACKS, MORE COPS ON THE WAY, ROMNEY SAYS
DARTMOUTH– Governor Romney today emphasized his commitment to enhancing public safety in Massachusetts by replacing an outdated State Police Barracks in Dartmouth with a modern, $7.6 million facility and adding the third State Police training class in the past two years.
“Whether it’s 4 A.M. on Christmas Eve or 4 P.M. on a Saturday in August when they’d rather be taking their families to the beach, our State Police force is on duty every hour of every day, dedicated to keeping the public safe,” said Romney. “These initiatives reflect the importance of their jobs and the value of their service to the Commonwealth.”
Romney was joined by Colonel Thomas G. Robbins, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, to break ground on the new 16,500 square feet, state-of-the-art facility. The new Dartmouth Barracks, expected to be completed in just over a year, will contain a cell block area, high-tech communications center, fitness area, and locker rooms. The facility will also accommodate several specialized units such as the Gang Unit and troopers assigned to the Governor’s Auto Theft Strike Force.
“This new barracks will enhance our effectiveness to ensure maximum service to the citizens of the Commonwealth,” said Colonel Robbins. “One of the main missions of the Dartmouth Barracks is to provide quality policing to the public to ensure safer roadways.”
Located on Faunce Corner Road near the Interstate 195 interchange, the modern facility will replace the current North Dartmouth Barracks that was originally built as a residence back in the 1920s. The 3,600-square-foot facility was converted to a state police barracks nearly 60 years ago. Since the barracks was not designed for public safety purposes, the obsolete facility does not have a cell block area to hold individuals who have been arrested.
As one of the state’s busiest barracks, Dartmouth is responsible for patrolling over 60 miles of roadway including routes to New Bedford, Fall River and the Rhode Island state line. The Dartmouth Barracks also provides nearly 50 miles of secondary patrol coverage.
“Our State Police troopers who serve the South Coast are working from an inadequate, even dangerous location. Today, our troopers can look forward to a state-of-the-art headquarters from which to fight crime in our region,” said Senator Mark Montigny, who has led the legislative effort for a new facility. “Fighting and winning a war on the thugs that are threatening our quality of life requires adequate resources.”
In addition, Romney announced that $4.4 million from the Fiscal Year 2006 budget that he signed last month will fund a new State Police class. Over the past two years, the state budget at the Governor’s request has provided funding for three state police classes, consisting of approximately 150 recruits per class.
Without funding for new classes, the State Police cannot replace the positions they lose due to retirement, or increase troop strength. The addition of the three classes will increase the State Police force from approximately 2,100 to nearly 2,400 troopers.
The 79th Recruit Training Troop will begin training at the State Police Academy in New Braintree in February of 2006. The current academy class is scheduled to graduate in December and 138 troopers graduated from the State Police Academy in April.
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