NYPD to Increase Officers at Subways to Watch for “Subway Pushing”

By Yehudit Garmaise

   In response to the unfortunate increase in mentally unwell people pushing others who are waiting for the subway onto the tracks, “the NYPD is going to be increasing its presence on subways,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said this morning at his press conference.

   As New Yorkers feel increasingly worried and afraid to use the subway because of “subway pushing,” the mayor said that he “[understood] the fear, but people should know that we are going to get that presence out there to keep people safe.

   The mayor, who called subway pushing, “a real concern,” wants “to make sure that New Yorkers have confidence that they can use the subway and know that help will be there for them.”

   In addition to increasing the visibility and the presence of NYPD on subway platforms, the mayor plans to increase the city’s mental health efforts. 

   “The thing we have to do is to find people and get them help before something like this happens,” said the mayor, who explained that he plans for city agencies to arrange for more medical interventions among people who exhibit behavior that reveals mental instability.

    “If we find someone who we think might be a threat to themselves or others, we are going to get them to a medical facility, and get them testing and evaluated,” the mayor said. “If [we see] someone who, by law, should not be on the streets, we are certainly going to act.

  “New Yorkers are strong, resilient folks, and we know that we can overcome anything.”

(Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit)