(Hartford television station WVIT posted the Associated Press story on its website on May 12.)
STAMFORD, Conn. — State troopers were removed from trains commuting to and from New York City last week, following a reduction in the nation’s security threat level.
The troopers had been stationed on the trains since March because of increased homeland security efforts coinciding with the start of the war in Iraq.
“After a review of the national security level and information we have received from the Office of Homeland Security, it was determined that the personnel on trains were no longer necessary,” state police spokesman Trooper Roger Beaupre said.
The federal Department of Homeland Security lowered the nation’s terror alert April 17 to yellow on the five-point, color-coded scale. It had previously been at orange. The state has scaled back security measures since then, including removing the troopers from trains, said Michele Sullivan, a spokeswoman for Gov. John G. Rowland.
Rowland announced the trooper initiative in March with New York Gov. George Pataki and New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey. The three signed an executive order that granted New Jersey and Connecticut troopers the authority to make arrests at New York train stations if necessary.
New Jersey state police reduced the number of troopers patrolling airports, train stations and bridges and tunnels Wednesday, New Jersey state police spokesman Lt. Al Della Fave said. The cost for Connecticut’s troopers is expected to be minimal, said Julie Cammarata, spokeswoman for the Office of Policy and Management. The Connecticut Office of Homeland Security is calculating the cost of the additional security measures and will submit an application to the federal government for reimbursement.