Mayor, police commissioner announce plan for safer subways
With a recent increase in crime in the subways compared to a year ago, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton — joined by NYPD Chief of Department James O’Neill, elected officials and others — went to the New York City Transit Authority Headquarters in downtown Brooklyn to announce an increase in police presence underground as well as updated technology that will make it easier for officers on the subways to communicate with their street level partners.
“You’re going to see more police presence in the subways. You’re going to see a vigorous response, but we’re also celebrating some progress on something that has been yearned for for years and is finally being achieved,” said de Blasio during the Wednesday, March 2 conference, referring to new radio technology that is said will help to keep both officers and pedestrians safe.
The mayor also addressed the recent increase in subway slashings. “We take it very seriously. We will not ever go back to those bad old days,” he said. “I remember what those subways used to be like and remember how they were plagued with crime. We are not going back.”