Hochul: Increased night police patrols in NYC subway system to begin Monday

ALBANY — Gov. Kathy Hochul said Thursday her plan to eventually put 300 more police in the New York City subway trains to bolster safety at night will begin Monday.

An additional 750 officers will be deployed into subway stations and on platforms, she said. They will all join the 2,500 police officers assigned to transit stations citywide.

Putting more police officers in the subways is among the measures she has taken since December following high-profile violence in the New York City transit system, including a rider who died after being set on fire on a train.

"Overall crime is down, we have the data," Hochul said. "But there has been an increase in some felony assaults and some murders, which is what really shakes that foundation of security that everyone deserves to have."

Hochul said the $77 million effort will be paid from state funds. The upcoming state budget, due April 1, would fund another six months, she said.

She added the move won't take away from New York City Police Department officers and National Guard troops already patrolling the subways during the day. She said the police surge will be accomplished by paying overtime.

“We know this is a strategy that actually works,” Hochul said after touring the 42nd Street–Bryant Park/Fifth Avenue subway station on Thursday.

Hochul said other parts of her plan include putting bright LED lights and surveillance cameras at more stations and platforms. The effort includes adding more barriers separating the platform from the trains to guard against incidents in which people are shoved in front of trains.

The governor said a similar surge of police presence she ordered last year with Mayor Eric Adams worked to suppress a spike in crime and violence in the subway.

Hochul also said new turnstiles designed to stop people from evading fares will be in place by the end of 2026 at the 40 stations where fare jumping is most common.

The New York Police Department Transit Bureau said the night assignments of two officers on every overnight train will be deployed in phases.

“Phase 1 will officially begin on Monday and include the first 100 officers," the bureau said. "Additional phases will be rolled out over the coming weeks with the expectation that the full operation will be complete by the end of the month. This is a massive undertaking that involves specialized training as well as logistics and resource management. We appreciate the governor’s support in keeping New Yorkers safe.”

Hochul further announced that more “SOS teams” of social workers and mental health workers will be deployed to the subways. The teams, known for their purple uniform jackets, seek to defuse tense situations before they turn into violent incidents.

The teams seek to get homeless and addicted people living in the subways into housing with supportive services so they can be treated.

“It’s really important that we get the right clinical training to deal with this particular population,” Hochul said. “It works so well.”

By Michael Gormley

michael.gormley@newsday.com@GormleyAlbany

Michael Gormley has worked for Newsday since 2013, covering state government, politics and issues. He has covered Albany since 2001.