MTA Metro-North Inspectors Accused of Faking Safety Checks, Dining on the Clock
Discipline letters allege two workers faked dozens of inspections across multiple stations; agency says safety remains a top priority as investigations continue.
Two Metro-North Railroad inspectors are accused of repeatedly skipping life-saving safety and equipment checks and fabricating inspection records, according to internal discipline letters reviewed by The Post. The documents allege maintenance mechanic George E. Desmond and inspector Ibn R. Jenkins logged inspections they did not perform and, in one instance, that Desmond dined at restaurants while on the clock. The discipline letters were provided by a veteran MTA employee who asked not to be named.
The letters describe a pattern of fake inspections at several high-profile stations, including Yankee Stadium, Harlem-125th Street, Highbridge Yard, New Haven, Glendale, Greenwich, Stamford, Springdale, Wassaic and West Hudson. They assert that Desmond’s reports claimed station and equipment inspections were completed at times when GPS data shows he was elsewhere or not present long enough to perform the checks. The letters also allege Desmond used his company vehicle to go to restaurants instead of performing work, and that Jenkins failed to conduct mandatory tests and made careless errors in paperwork related to train signal testing. The Harlem-125th Street station is singled out among the locations cited in the accusations.
Desmond, who has held various MTA mechanic assignments since 2012, and Jenkins remain employed at Metro-North while the investigations proceed, agency officials said. A July disciplinary letter from a manager accuses Desmond of misconduct, detailing times when he could not have completed the lengthy inspections. In some instances, the letters say, Desmond was not at the stations at all, while in others he spent insufficient time to perform dozens of inspections; in at least one case, he allegedly trained a new employee instead of conducting inspections.
Jenkins is also accused of failing to conduct mandatory tests, inspections and maintenance, and of making careless errors in paperwork for train signal testing, which could compromise safety and equipment reliability. The discipline letters say the alleged misconduct endangered both employees and riders.
The allegations come in the context of broader concerns about inspection gaps at the transit agency. In 2021, seven subway track inspectors were suspended after the MTA’s internal watchdog found they had failed to conduct inspections and lied about it on official forms. An audit cited in the discipline materials found other Metro-North inspectors faked checks during 2024, with 100 safety tests never completed along the New Haven line and the New Canaan branch. 
Riders reacted with a mix of concern and pragmatism. Olivia Marceda, 19, a college student who regularly rides Metro-North from Grand Central, said the alleged lapses raise questions about oversight. “I definitely think that’s concerning,” she told The Post. “There should have been more checks and balances, and leadership should be more on top of the workers.” Others offered a more forgiving take. Jai Misra, 62, who recently moved from Delhi, said he believes the system generally works and that inspections can be inconsistent in other countries too. “I come from India; it’s very bad there. There’s no such thing as inspections. It’s all randomly done,” Misra said. “My expectations are lower, so I am happy. This is very good for me.”
The derailment of a Metro-North train in 2013 that killed four holiday travelers remains a salient reminder of safety procedures and the potential consequences of failures. MTA officials stressed that all stations and equipment named in the discipline letters, as well as the broader audit findings, have been inspected since the accusations arose. “Safety is Metro-North’s highest priority, and the railroad has zero tolerance for anyone who would engage in the conduct alleged,” said Justin Vonashek, president of Metro-North.
Officials did not respond to requests for comment from Desmond and Jenkins. The agency noted that both workers are subject to ongoing investigations, and it emphasized that the stations and equipment cited have undergone inspections since the letters were issued. The scrutiny comes as the MTA faces ongoing questions about staffing, oversight, and accountability across its vast network, which serves millions of riders each year. 