Heavily Armed Cops to Patrol Subways

[Matt Molnar]

New Operation to Put Heavily Armed Officers in Subways (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/02/nyregion/02machinegun.html?ex=1359694800&en=d1c704f39d7c871b&ei=5124&partner=digg&exprod=digg)

By AL BAKER
Published: February 2, 2008

In the first counterterrorism strategy of its kind in the nation, roving teams of New York City police officers armed with automatic rifles and accompanied by bomb-sniffing dogs will patrol the city’s subway system daily, beginning next month, officials said on Friday.

Under a tactical plan called Operation Torch, the officers will board trains and patrol platforms, focusing on sites like Pennsylvania Station, Herald Square, Columbus Circle, Rockefeller Center and Times Square in Manhattan, and Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn.

Officials said the operation would begin in March. Read more... (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/02/nyregion/02machinegun.html?ex=1359694800&en=d1c704f39d7c871b&ei=5124&partner=digg&exprod=digg)

[lijk604]

So much for NY subway photos. I know it's still legal, but who is going to argue with automatic rifles?

[PhilDernerJr]

I'm lookin forward to seeing MP5s during my commute! :)

[cancidas]

they use M4s now phil, at least i think so. just another bad idea IMO, there are so many stations in NYC that patrolling them all with that kind of manpwer isn't going to be easy. focussing on just a few stations is just not enough...

[PhilDernerJr]

I know they use M4s, but have they completed phased out the MP5? It's certainly a superior close quaters weapon.

I don't think it will be a problem. People should feel safer, I think.

[Midnight Mike]

Why?

There have been no recent credible reports of terrorist activity, is this just a way for Bloomberg to spend the grant money or a way for New Yorkers to feel safe?

[PhilDernerJr]

Feeling safe is what it's about.

Just because there has been no "credible" threats does not mean that we should not still be vigilant.

There's no harm in doing this.

[Midnight Mike]

Feeling safe is what it's about.

Just because there has been no "credible" threats does not mean that we should not still be vigilant.

There's no harm in doing this.

True, the only comment that I have is if there is no credible threat & you put armed Cops on the subways to make people feel safe, having those same Cops on the subway will serve as a reminder of what happened, prolonging the healing process from 9/11 & making people feel nervous while at the same time of making people feel safe.

"I feel safe that there are armed cops on the subway, but, because they are there, there could be a problem, so, now you feel nervous."

Perhaps having extra Cops would be an alternative, without the flair of the extra gear?

Just a thought....

[emshighway]

Why?

There have been no recent credible reports of terrorist activity, is this just a way for Bloomberg to spend the grant money or a way for New Yorkers to feel safe?


I wouldn't be so sure on that.

[PhilDernerJr]

As pointed out by emshighway, just because you haven't heard anything does not mean there are no major threats going on.

At a certain point, people need to forego the "feel safe" so that they can actually BE safe. You have to live with the reality that there IS a war going on.

[Matt Molnar]

This is an election year, the economy is on shaky ground, and the masses have more or less returned to their "what, me worry?" mindset. From Bin Laden's point of view, I can't think of a more perfect time to serve up an attack. It's nice to see SOMETHING being done to protect the nearly wholly unfortified subway system. The MTA has been sitting on $1 billion earmarked for security for about 6 years now, awarded some contracts but from what I see everyday, there has been no action, no new cameras, no cops guarding the entrances to river tunnels, nothing.

[NIKV69]

Mixed emotions here, I have to say that what this will acheive is actually keeping the subway safe from the petty crime but if Al Qaida wanted to attack the NY subway system these heavily armed cops would have no effect on them. It would either be a biological attack or some sort of elaborate bomb scheme which those cops wouldn't know about till it was too late.

[cancidas]

I know they use M4s, but have they completed phased out the MP5? It's certainly a superior close quaters weapon.

I don't think it will be a problem. People should feel safer, I think.

i don't really feel any safer because they've got guns...

also, if you trust murphy you know: THE ENEMY WILL FIND A WAY.

[adam613]

So much for NY subway photos. I know it's still legal, but who is going to argue with automatic rifles?

I quite regularly take pictures of the cops in the subway. Not the ones with the automatic rifles, just the regular ones. They don't seem to mind.

(Then again, with my kit lens, I probably look like a tourist :) )