Mayor Adams on increased subway security: ‘The uniform means a lot to people’

NEW YORK (PIX11) — The NYPD, the National Guard and New York State Police are patrolling the transit system as nearly 4 million people move around on the trains.

A week after Gov. Kathy Hochul added state reinforcements to transit, Mayor Eric Adams addressed subway safety during his weekly media availability.

The mayor said there needs to be cooperation between agencies as they work to develop long-term plans.

“I have a dual role here. I bring down crime and also make people feel safe. If you’re on the subway and you see the trooper, the National Guard and the officer, you’ll feel safe. The uniform means a lot to people,” Adams said.

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The NYPD and the mayor added 1,000 police officers in February. The NYPD is responsible for patrolling stations and trains. They report a 15% decrease in February.

Hochul said the additional guard and state police could immediately address the current situation and concerns.

To measure the impact, the administration and police track crime statistics, the number of arrests and the number of guns.

Richard Davis is the president of TWU Local 100, which represents transit workers.

“They realize there’s a safety issue here and right now we have to address safety for our members and the riding public,” Davis said.

The mayor said the administration is looking at the new normal for subway patrols and it can’t depend on police overtime.

The governor’s plan also added $20 million for mental health teams and called for district attorneys to address repeat offenders.

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