Weapons scanners ‘coming soon’ to NYC’s subways as officials tout transit crime dip

Straphangers might see weapons scanners within the subways within the subsequent few days, Mayor Eric Adams mentioned Wednesday — as officers touted a dip in crime within the metropolis’s beleaguered transit system.

“It ought to be rolled out within the subsequent few days to do our preliminary implementation” at a handful of stations, Adams advised reporters on the Fulton Heart transit hub.

He mentioned NYPD brass briefed him Tuesday night time on the soon-to-be pilot program, which the mayor unveiled throughout a March occasion wherein he demonstrated a free-standing firearm-detecting scanner manufactured by Evolv.

“And they’re different corporations as nicely. We’re not locked into this firm,” Adams added.

However NYPD Transit Chief Michael Kemper was extra obscure concerning the futuristic weapons scanner take a look at.

He solely provided that the NYPD had reached the tip of a 90-day wait required by the town’s surveillance regulation to start out testing the know-how.

“Coming quickly,” he mentioned.

Metropolis Corridor and NYPD officers declined to offer extra specifics about when and the place the weapons detectors will seem.

The detail-free reveal concerning the scanner checks got here throughout a information convention wherein Adams and MTA honcho Janno Lieber contended that the transit system is getting much less violent, citing latest statistics.

Adams mentioned that crime within the subways thus far this 12 months is down almost 8% in comparison with 2023. These crimes dropped 44% this week alone in comparison with the identical timeframe final 12 months, he mentioned.

“These numbers don’t lie,” Adams mentioned.

“Our subway system is getting safer on a regular basis. Right now, it’s clear that our efforts are working.”

An underground crime wave rattled straphangers in the course of the first months of 2024, as hooligans attacked MTA employees, punched and tried to rape a girl and kicked a straphanger onto the tracks.

One unhinged ruffian was fatally shot along with his personal gun after he attacked a person on a rush-hour practice — a harrowing incident that got here simply days after Gov. Kathy Hochul deployed the Nationwide Guard into subways to carry out bag checks.

The 20% surge in subway crime in the course of the first two months this 12 months light as Adams and Hochul doubled-down on security measures, together with sending extra cops into the subways.

“It’s not the dystopian hellscape that our associates within the tabloid media generally painting,” Lieber mentioned of subways.

One 94-year-old straphanger, who didn’t wish to give his title, mentioned he’s all for scanners.

“As a result of the world is what it’s,” he mentioned.

However one other subway rider, Reid Simmons, wasn’t so certain.

“I don’t even care I simply need a practice,” the 44-year-old mentioned.

Further reporting by Hannah Fierick