Gov. Hochul deploys 750 National Guardsmen to NYC subways amid underground crime surge

New York Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that her administration plans to deploy 750 National Guardsmen to New York City subway systems amid an uptick in underground violence.

During a Wednesday press conference in Albany, Hochul unveiled a "five-point plan" to address the city's crime-ridden subways. As part of the new strategy to curb violence, Hochul will deploy 1,000 New York State Police officers, Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police officers, and New York National Guardsmen to assist the New York Police Department with conducting bag checks.

The governor introduced a bill that grants judges the authority to ban individuals who have been convicted of committing a violent crime within the city's transit system from using the subway. Additional cameras will be installed throughout the subway system, including inside conductor cabins, to ensure the safety of transit workers. Hochul's multi-pronged plan also includes "increasing coordination between District Attorneys and law enforcement," as well as "increasing the number of Subway Co-Response Outreach (SCOUT) teams throughout the system."

"These brazen, heinous attacks on our subway system will not be tolerated," Hochul stated. "We'll be having 750 members of the New York National Guard, as well as another 250 personnel from State and MTA police. You'll start seeing them at the tables, making sure that weapons are not being brought in, working in concert with our New York State Police, as well as our NYPD because no one heading to their job or to visit family or to go to a doctor appointment should worry that the person sitting next to them possesses a deadly weapon. They shouldn't worry about whether someone's going to brandish a knife or gun."

"Effective immediately, the MTA will work with the District Attorneys and the NYPD to create a new early warning system for repeat offenders," Hochul continued. "We know who they are. They'll flag the criminal history at the time of arrest so it can be fully considered when decisions regarding charging and bail are made."

According to NYPD statistics, subway crime rates in the first two months of 2023 were 20% higher than the same period the previous year.

Hochul announced the new plan to reduce violent crime following several recent attacks in New York City's subways. So far this year, three individuals have been fatally shot within the transit system.

On Tuesday, New York City Democratic Mayor Eric Adams similarly announced that the city plans to increase bag checks and the number of law enforcement officers patrolling the subways.

"We need our officers out there," Adams said. "When I'm on the subway system, I speak with riders and they say, 'Eric, nothing makes us feel safer than seeing that officer at the token booth, walking through the system, walking through the trains, and that is what we want our officers doing.'"

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