Amidst rising concerns about safety in the subway system, New York City is set to implement new technology to detect weapons. Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban announced the pilot program on Thursday, which is expected to begin in a few months following a 90-day waiting period after the impact and use policy for electromagnetic weapons detection systems is published.
However, the Legal Aid Society has criticized the approach to public safety as “misguided, costly, and creating significant invasions of privacy.” They expressed concerns about the flawed nature of gun detection systems, citing that they often trigger false alarms which could potentially lead to dangerous situations.
Efforts to improve safety in the subway have also been made by New York state and local leaders. Gov. Kathy Hochul deployed the National Guard and State Police for random bag checks, and Commissioner Caban engaged with riders to hear their concerns. Transit crime has seen a 4% increase compared to last year and an 8% increase compared to 14 years ago. In addition, the NYPD announced plans to assign 800 more officers for a week-long crackdown on subway fare evaders and is hiring more clinicians to aid people with mental illness.
Despite these efforts, there are still concerns about the potential impact and effectiveness of the new weapons detection technology. The Legal Aid Society has called it “misguided,” while others have raised questions about its accuracy and potential for false positives. However, city officials insist that it’s an important step towards ensuring public safety in one of New York’s most heavily used transportation systems.
