National Guard to assist T, two say

Uniformed and armed National Guardsmen will staff MBTA stations to provide extra security during the Democratic National Convention, two law enforcement officials confirmed yesterday.

Joe Pesaturo, spokesman for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, said last night that the agency's police would be assisted during convention week by personnel "from a law enforcement agency," but would not provide specifics.

"The MBTA police are getting extraordinary cooperation and commitments from federal and state law enforcement agencies," Pesaturo said.

The law enforcement officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the guardsmen would be in MBTA stations during the convention. One official said he did not know how many guardsmen would be used.

MBTA Police Chief Joseph Carter did not return calls seeking comment yesterday.

In an interview earlier this month about baggage inspections, T general manager Michael Mulhern said the agency "will be getting additional help" during the convention but would not elaborate.

The baggage inspection plans include random inspections of riders' bags on buses, boats, the subway, and commuter rail.

Officials will use an explosive detection device and dogs trained to sniff for bombs before allowing passengers to proceed.

One explosive detection device that T police will use during the convention is also being used by the federal Transportation Security Administration, one of the law enforcement officials said.

The official added that the TSA is training T officers and supervisors to use the device.

T officials have also been meeting with area police departments to bolster security at suburban commuter rail stations.

For example, over the past month, officers from Attleboro have met with T and US Department of Homeland Security officials to plan for convention week, said Chief Richard Pierce of the Attleboro police.

"The MBTA has asked for our assistance through a mutual aid agreement," Pierce said. "We want to make sure we have an increased security presence, so we can address suspicious activity right when someone notices it."

Police Chief Ronald Madigan of Swampscott said T officials have reached out to all area police departments where the agency's rail lines run to ask for support.

Police from those departments will patrol commuter stations around the clock, he said.

"We want to make people feel more safe," Madigan said. "I'm under the impression they've asked all of the districts with an overlapping jurisdiction to lend a hand."