New York Deploys National Guard Against Subway Crime

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) announced that her state would deploy its National Guard to defend subway passengers from crime as part of a wider move to reduce crime on the public transit system. The move came after a sharp increase in crime in both the city generally and on subways in the last five years.

“These brazen heinous attacks on our subway system will not be tolerated,” the governor said in announcing the program earlier this week.

The governor cited a number of attacks on passengers and officials, including a knife attack on a train conductor last week. Overall, 750 members of the National Guard and 250 police will aid the New York Police Department (NYPD) in monitoring the subway system.

Hochul’s plan was announced after negotiation with the area’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the NYPD and New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D).

“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,” said the governor. “They shouldn’t worry about whether someone’s going to brandish a knife or gun. That’s what we’re going to do with these checkpoints.”

The Governor of New York, Kathy Hochul has ordered the Deployment of 750 Soldiers and Airmen with the New York National Guard as well as 250 State Police into the New York City Subway System following a Massive Spike recently in Violent Crime; alongside this Deployment, she has… pic.twitter.com/RiOC2H5Onp

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 6, 2024

The plan included the reintroduction of bag checks on the subway. The NYPD also announced a 12 hour shift tour in the subway system.

New York City has seen a significant increase in subway crime since the 2020 George Floyd riots. This has included an increase in both property and violent crime in different forms. A number of Asian American passengers have been attacked in what appears to be racial bias attacks.

There has also been an increase in murders in the subway system in recent years.

Furthermore, some of the subway stations have been blocked by pro-Palestine protesters since the war between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas began last October.

The increase in crime has also been linked to a significant reduction in officers in the subway over the last two years.

Early 2024 has seen a significant increase in subway crime over 2023 so far.