New York will deploy National Guard to subway after series of shootings | International

A series of violent incidents in the New York subway, the largest network of tunnels and stations in the world, prompted the state governor, Democrat Kathy Hochul, to approve the deployment of 750 National Guard officers in the city’s subway network. The concern of the authorities and public opinion is contradicted by the daily experience of the user of the subway, an effective and, in general, safe means of transport at any time of the day, even if today called into question, once again, by a chain of shootings with great media impact. impact.

Hochul will send 1,000 officers to the subway — 750 National Guard officers along with 250 members of the state transit police force and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, he announced Wednesday. Officers will carry out random checks of passengers’ bags and plans are underway to install more security cameras, the governor said. Officers’ practice of randomly searching purses and backpacks has made many New Yorkers uncomfortable, judging by reactions on social media. Bodies such as the ACLU (acronym for American Civil Liberties Union), the most important civil rights group in the country, have long raised the alarm about the illegitimacy of the measure without a search warrant.

“In New York City, the police are required by law to notify you when they ask for your consent to a search and to inform you that you have the right to refuse. If you agree to a search, this could affect your rights later in court. If the police say they have a search warrant, ask for it. If they don’t have it, say, “I do not consent to this search.” The police cannot arrest or fine you simply for refusing to consent to a search,” warns the ACLU.

This tightening of security – which is by no means the first – comes after several shootings in January and February shocked public transport users. Two months ago, a man was shot and killed on a Brooklyn Subway Line 3 train after attempting to break up an argument caused by the loud music a commuter was listening to (neither on the subway nor on the street or in parks, the use of large music players without headphones is rare). Another man was shot and killed on the 4 line in the Bronx on Feb. 12, when an argument between two groups of teenagers turned violent. He was a Mexican immigrant who had not participated in the struggle and who worked from dawn to dusk to send remittances home. Additionally, on the morning of February 23, a man was murdered on a D train in the Bronx due to an argument with other passengers.

Ban entry to those convicted of violent crimes

“Anyone who wants to do harm or spread fear in our metro will be arrested,” the state governor declared. “Plain and simple, there will be consequences. This thing has to stop. New Yorkers deserve no less. And for those who feel distressed every time they pass through the turnstiles, we will stop at nothing to keep you and your family safe and give you peace of mind.”

There are criminal accounts on social networks, as well as expanding scout groups (sic).” The reference to the workers finds its explanation in the attack suffered two weeks ago by the driver of one of the trains, attacked on the neck, without consequences, by a traveller, who provoked a strike by his fellow train drivers to denounce the exposure of your work.

Hochul also plans to change the legislation “within weeks” to allow courts to ban those convicted of violent crimes from using the public transportation system. Another 20 million dollars will also be allocated to increase the staff of mental health teams working in the subway to remove from the system and bring into specialized centers – even against their will – those suffering from mental health problems, a reality evident everywhere. in the halls, on the platforms and in the carriages. Previous reinforcement of uniformed officers at stations contributed to a 17% reduction in crimes committed in the system in February, which demonstrates its acceptable level of security, except for incidents that attract spotlight and headlines.

The debate over the safety, or insecurity, of the New York subway is a recurring topic. After a series of tragic events involving homeless people with serious mental problems – a dramatic reality on the streets of New York – the mayor, also a Democrat Eric Adams, adopted a series of effective measures to ensure peace in the suburban area (the only possible suburban area) home to many homeless people).

In his fight against common crime, the councilor’s most noteworthy initiatives were the new joint police-social services patrols to deal with the most serious cases, and the signing of a friendly robot to patrol Times Square station, a kilometer away zero from the city. . Initially accompanied by a pair of agents as guardians, the autonomous robot Knightscope K5, or AK5, was withdrawn from circulation a month ago after it was determined, as it had been warned, that it could not go up or down stairs. At the time, the mayor compared the device to a Roomba vacuum cleaner. Civil liberties advocates and police reform activists have questioned the need for this and other high-tech devices, such as the robot police dog. Digidoganother of Adams’ big purchases, for possible data collection.

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