SUMMER EXPERIENCE

I worked in the Maritime Division of Massport, and was supervised by both the Port Director and the Legal Department. My project was to research models for policing port properties. I accomplished this by getting a full overview of Massport's model, and then contacting several ports across the nation to learn about their models. I described the different models to Massport via a research paper, and then explained how the pros and cons of each model could be utilized at Massport. Another section of my paper dealt with the issue of whether the benefits of acquiring deputy sheriff status for the Massport Security Services Unit outweighed the burdens, such as the potential for increased liability. I contacted local colleges and universities, as some of their police have deputy sheriff status. I inquired about their dealings with local police departments, and about how having, or not having deputy sheriff status had affected their ability to deal with jurisdictional conflicts. The port is adding residences, retail space, restaurants and a mall in the coming months and years. My project will help Massport to assess the pros and cons of its own policing model. As Massport continues program development, my research will be used in considering how ideas from police departments at other ports and at local colleges and universities can improve the new proposal.