NYC Subway Safety: Hochul Promises $77M to Put Cops on Overnight Trains – But is the NYPD Stretched Too Thin?
Governor Kathy Hochul’s New Subway Safety Plan
Governor Kathy Hochul has pledged to place at least two cops on every subway train overnight without diverting officers from over patrols, achieving the initiative through overtime. However, the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) says the NYPD does not have the staffing to sustain the promised patrols.
The Plan
Hochul stood in Grand Central Station on January 16, flanked by officers, to announce that her new subway safety plan would begin on Monday. Some 300 transit cops are expected to be situated in pairs on the trains, while another 750 are expected to be placed on station platforms. This won’t come cheap, however. The new patrols will be achieved by expanding officer overtime, which will cost $77 million. Nonetheless, Hochul said, the state would pick up the tab.
Overtime Costs
"This is overtime. This is something we are willing to do at the state level to assist the city. We’ve done it before. It’s made a difference, and I’m going back to proven strategies that work," the governor said. "Yes, between now and when the budget process is done. So we have the resources to do that."
After the six months have elapsed, Hochul says she will seek another $77 million from the state legislature for the later half of 2025 in order to continue the patrols.
The Need for More Police Presence
This subway surge comes after several high-profile crimes in the bowels of the Big Apple left the city shocked and appalled by an ongoing, dangerous mental health crisis in the city. On December 22, 2024, Guatemala migrant Sebastian Zapeta-Calil allegedly set Debrina Kawam on fire as she slept aboard a Coney Island F train, burning her to death caught on horrific video. On December 31, Joe Lynskey was shoved in front of an oncoming 1 train on 18th Street and 7th Avenue station, allegedly by Kamel Hawkins.
PBA’s Concerns
However, not everyone in law enforcement agrees with the move. The PBA’s President, Patrick Hendry, has lauded the move to add more cops to the subways, but also says that the NYPD does not have the staffing to maintain the promised patrols. He called upon Albany lawmakers to help the city recruit more officers to do the job.
"New Yorkers have been demanding more police presence, both in the subways and in our neighborhoods. But the NYPD simply does not have the staffing to sustain that presence for the long haul everywhere it’s needed. In order for these plans to succeed, we need additional help from Albany to recruit and retain the Finest," Hendry said.
Conclusion
Hochul’s plan to add more police presence to the subways is a step in the right direction, but the question remains whether the NYPD has the resources to sustain it. The PBA’s concerns about staffing levels are valid, and it remains to be seen how effective this initiative will be in reducing crime in the subways.
FAQs
- When will the new police presence in the subways start?
The new initiative will begin on Monday, with the first phase involving 100 officers. - How much will the new patrols cost?
The new patrols will cost $77 million, which will be funded by the state. - Will the NYPD be diverting existing officers from other patrols?
No, according to the governor, the NYPD will not be diverting existing officers from other patrols to achieve the new initiative. - What is the goal of the new initiative?
The goal is to increase police presence in the subways to reduce crime and improve safety.
