On Monday, the New York Police Department unveiled its strategy to bolster security within the city’s subway system by deploying an additional 800 officers, both in uniform and undercover. This move, as reported by the New York Post, aims to intensify efforts against fare evasion, a tactic central to the NYPD’s broader crime reduction strategy.
John Chell, the NYPD’s Chief of Patrol, announced at a press conference the initiation of “Operation Fare Play.” This five-day campaign is designed to station officers at various subway stations, targeting fare evaders to mitigate the recent surge in violent crimes. Although specific locations were not disclosed, Chell mentioned that decisions on where to deploy officers would be based on crime data, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) statistics, and community feedback.
Michael Kemper, the NYPD Transit Chief, highlighted the ongoing issue of “blatant fare evasion at the turnstiles,” emphasizing the importance of maintaining law and order starting at the subway’s entry points. He urged riders to make the right choice: “Don’t jump, don’t crawl, don’t come through the gate.”
Chell made it clear that this initiative is not a temporary measure. “This is not a one-week deal,” he asserted, signaling the department’s commitment to repeated actions without revealing specific locations to ensure unpredictability. His message was firm: “Don’t think you can come down here and get a free ride and bring your weapons. There’s no more freebies anymore.”
So far this year, the NYPD has issued 28,000 summonses for fare evasion and arrested 1,700 individuals, with 20 subway riders caught carrying firearms. Notably, eleven of these guns were discovered during fare evasion stops.
Kemper expressed confidence in the operation’s potential to “correct behavior and keep the subway system safe.” He underscored the continuous effort in fare evasion enforcement and turnstile presence as crucial elements of the NYPD’s crime-reduction strategy.
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber praised the commitment to transit safety demonstrated by Mayor Eric Adams and the NYPD, aligning with recent findings from the New York Post that, despite an overall decrease in subway crime, there has been a significant rise in violent attacks causing serious injuries.
This initiative reflects the NYPD and MTA’s dedication to ensuring the safety and security of subway riders through stringent enforcement and a visible police presence, aiming to deter fare evasion and related criminal activities.