Forry will continue legislative fight to get Boston Police jurisdiction over South Boston waterfront

Newly elected state Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry says she'll continue predecessor Jack Hart's effort to give Boston Police the right to patrol land along the South Boston waterfront owned by Massport.

Her vow comes after the Herald reported State Police, who now have sole jurisdiction over the land, sat on information about a woman being picked up by a gypsy cab driver who then drove her to Newton and raped her, because of an ongoing spat with BPD over South Boston waterfront jursidiction.

A 1996 state law gave State Police sole jurisdiction over the land, at the time used almost entirely for port activities, such as storing and shipping cargo. Today, much of the land houses hotels, bars and restaurants. In a statement, Forry says:

This is a public safety issue that needs to be addressed immediately. We cannot have another incident hidden from the eyes of the public. I have been in touch with Mayor Menino and look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate. I am hopeful that this bill will be passed and signed into law before the end of the year.

Hart and Mayor Menino had tried for several years to get the law changed.