City Council Wants Police Department to Take Over Harbormaster Duties

The New Bedford City Council would like to see harbormaster duties placed in the hands of the police department.

During Thursday evening's meeting, Councilors submitted a motion to make the harbormaster an extension of the New Bedford Police Department's Port Security Division.

Council President Joe Lopes says it's time to think outside the box and give these officers full authority over the City's waterways.

Officers within the Port Security Unit already hold numerous federal certifications and work closely with U.S. Customs and the Coast Guard, along with a number of other federal agencies.

The Council also acknowledged NBPD has done a remarkable job since the harbormaster position became vacant in late 2012.

Multiple cities throughout the Commonwealth have similar structures where the harbormaster is a part of the police department, rather than an appointed official.