Gun Arrests Soar 94% on NYC Subways, Subway Crime Down 5% in 2023
Gun arrests on New York City subways have surged a staggering 94% compared to 2019, according to NYPD data obtained by The Post. So far this year, transit police have made 37 gun arrests, compared to just 18 in 2019. The number of arrests also increased by 54% compared to the same period in 2022.
While the increase in gun arrests may be alarming, Chief of Transit Michael Kemper believes it is a positive sign for overall subway safety. He emphasized that every loaded gun recovered is one less gun endangering lives: We’re stopping people for fare evading and we’re coming up with loaded guns, and every loaded gun we recover is one less gun that’s in the hands of someone that could shoot.
Despite the surge in gun arrests, overall subway crime has decreased by 5% in 2023. The data shows a decrease in most major crimes, except for felony assault and burglary, which have increased by 4% and 43% respectively. Kemper attributes the drop in overall subway crime to the proactive approach of cracking down on quality-of-life offenses, such as turnstile jumping, which accounted for 97% of the gun arrests this year.
However, not everyone is convinced by the statistics. Some subway passengers argue that the perceived increase in crime contradicts the reported decrease. Gladys Chen, a victim of assault on the subway, expressed her skepticism, stating, What’s the metric for ‘subway crime is down?’ Subway crime is down where…because anecdotally, are you kidding? How can that be when that woman was pushed at 53rd and 5th the other day?
The NYPD’s efforts to address the public’s perception of subway safety include deploying additional police officers, curbing fare evasion, and cracking down on quality-of-life offenses. So far this year, police have made 10,783 arrests in the subway, a 57.5% increase compared to the same period last year.
Some police sources, however, believe that the increase in arrests is merely cosmetic. They argue that many of the individuals arrested are not being prosecuted, undermining the impact of increased law enforcement presence.
Chief Kemper acknowledged the progress made but recognized that there is still work to be done. He stated, It’s real progress, but we still recognize that we still have a lot of work to do to get where we want to be, and we’re committed to that. We’re not waving a flag of victory.
In the midst of differing perspectives on subway safety, the NYPD continues its efforts to enhance security and reduce crime on New York City subways. With gun arrests soaring but overall crime decreasing, the debate over subway safety remains a contentious and complex issue.
