NYPD to flood subways with 800 more cops to target fare-beaters as crime surges
NY Post
The NYPD is blitzing the subway system with 800 more cops over the next five days to hunt down fare-beaters as it continues to attack the quality-of-life issue, claiming the move curbs far more violent crimes.
The department’s new “Operation Fare Play” — which comes one day after a Post analysis found that violent attacks on the rails have jumped by more than 50% since 2019 — will target stations throughout the five boroughs, NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said at a press conference with other department brass at the subway stop at 125th Street and Lenox Avenue in Manhattan on Monday.
The extra officers will be deployed to stations based on the transit stops’ crime levels, MTA statistics and community complaints, Chell said.
“This is not a one-week deal,” Chell said of the “surge” tactic.
“We’re gonna do it time and time again. We’re not giving the locations ’cause we don’t want people to know,” he said. “What we want them to know is, ‘Don’t think you can come down here and get a free ride and bring your weapons.’
NYPD Transit Chief Michael Kemper added, “Blatant fare evasion at the turnstiles remains one of the primary complaints from both law-abiding subway riders and the MTA.
