New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D.) declared on Wednesday her decision to deploy National Guard troops and additional law enforcement officers to enhance security in New York City's subway system amidst a surge in criminal activities in recent months.
Governor Hochul unveiled a plan to dispatch 1,000 service members to oversee patrols and "conduct bag inspections in the city's most crowded stations." This deployment includes 750 members from the New York National Guard and 250 officers from the State Police and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Addressing the alarming increase in subway-related crimes, Governor Hochul emphasized, "These brazen heinous attacks on our subway system will not be tolerated." She further expressed concern, stating, "No one heading to their job or to visit family or go to a doctor appointment should worry that the person sitting next to them possesses a deadly weapon."
The governor's decisive action follows New York City Mayor Eric Adams' (D.) deployment of 1,000 officers to subway stations last month in response to the escalating crime rates. Mayor Adams highlighted the importance of visible law enforcement presence, stating, "I'm on the subway system and I speak with riders. They say, 'Eric, nothing makes us feel safer than seeing that officer at the token booth, walking through the system, walking through the trains' and that is what we want our officers to do."
In the past year, New York City's subway system has witnessed three homicides, along with numerous felony assaults and grand larcenies. Recent incidents include a fatal shooting during rush hour by suspected gang members and a violent attack on a Fox News meteorologist by a group of teenagers.
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