The New York Police Department is sending another 800 police officers into the subway system this week to combat fare evasion and crime.
The additional officers will be deployed to stations in all boroughs based on the transit stops’ crime levels and community complaints, NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said at a press conference on Monday.
NYPD Transit Chief Michael Kemper said "Operation Fare Play" will be ongoing for five days starting Monday, but may continue as needed.
Over 1,700 people have been arrested on a charge of turnstile-jumping so far this year, said Kemper. In addition, police have issued fare evasion tickets to over 28,000 people so far this year. Kemper said out of the 20 gun arrests police have made in the subway system this year, 11 of those arrests were made after officers stopped the individual at the turnstile.
"Don't jump, don't crawl, don't come through the gate," said Kemper. "The tone of law and order starts at the turnstiles."
