NEW YORK -- In an effort to enhance safety in the subway system, New York City is planning to implement innovative technology for detecting weapons.
Amid concerns about subway violence among commuters, Mayor Eric Adams unveiled the initiative to procure mobile weapons detectors for the transit system on Thursday.
Adams has initiated a global quest to identify the most effective system, with the goal of launching a pilot program within 90 days.
Recent incidents such as a shooting at the Nostrand Avenue station in Brooklyn and random acts of violence have contributed to the perception of insecurity within the subway.
"Would I prefer for us not to have to navigate through this when entering our system? Absolutely. But we must confront reality and strive to transform it into what it should be," remarked Adams.
The tech-savvy mayor is inviting proposals from technology firms worldwide, while also showcasing a system where a red box appears on an iPad to indicate the presence and location of a weapon.
"The impact and use policy for electromagnetic weapons detection systems will be published here in New York City," Adams announced. "This marks the beginning of a 90-day waiting period before the testing and use of this technology in our city to enhance the safety of New Yorkers."
Officials aimed to address concerns from civil rights groups regarding false alarms and potential aggressive behavior from law enforcement. They emphasized that if an alarm is triggered when passing through the device, police officers are only permitted to search the specific area where a weapon is detected.
However, instances of false alarms are possible. In May 2022, CBS New York's Marcia Kramer tested a weapons detection system at City Hall as part of a trial program. The device signaled an alert, highlighting an orange box on her backpack. It was later discovered that a portion of her iPad resembled the shape of a gun cylinder. This incident led the Legal Aid Society to criticize the initiative as "dystopian."
"This administration's strong reliance on technology as a solution to enhance public safety is misguided, expensive, and results in significant privacy intrusions," stated Jerome Greco of Legal Aid.
Adams assured that efforts will be made to address any issues with the new systems.
"We will conduct a thorough analysis," Adams stated.
Reactions from subway riders were mixed.
"I believe that will be beneficial. It will help people feel secure," expressed one subway commuter.
"It sounds like it costs millions of dollars that could be used in a better way," remarked a concerned individual.
Authorities have stated that the deployment of resources will be based on necessity.
New York state and local officials have been making efforts to enhance safety in the underground transportation system. Governor Kathy Hochul has taken the initiative to deploy the National Guard and State Police for random bag checks, while Caban has been actively engaging with commuters to gather feedback. Reports indicate that transit-related crimes have increased by 4% compared to last year and 8% compared to 14 years ago.
In response to these challenges, the NYPD has announced a plan to deploy an additional 800 officers for a week-long operation targeting subway fare evaders. The city is also expanding its workforce by hiring more clinicians to provide assistance to individuals dealing with mental health issues.
