In a bid to combat the dangerous trend of “subway surfing,” the New York City Police Department (NYPD) has deployed drones as the latest technology to monitor elevated subway lines.
Since their deployment, the drones have assisted transit officers in the successful apprehension of four individuals engaged in the reckless act, including a 12-year-old.
The announcement was made by NYPD Transit Chief Michael Kemper during a presentation to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) board.
“Over the last several weeks, the NYPD has been piloting a drone program that deploys drones near subway lines where we’ve seen very concerning and reckless acts of subway surfing,” Kemper disclosed.
The drone initiative aims to deter individuals from climbing on top of subway trains, a dangerous practice that has claimed several lives in recent years.
The youngest among the apprehended subway surfers, a 12-year-old, was stopped by police just a week ago.
Kemper discussed the potential lifesaving impact of their efforts: “With our team’s work, hopefully this 12-year-old will not subway-surf anymore and will live to see the age of 13.”
While specific details about the monitored subway lines and the number of drones employed were not provided, MTA officials had previously identified the No. 7, J, M and Z lines as hotspots for subway surfing incidents.
Subway surfing gained notoriety last year when 928 individuals were found riding outside subway cars. Tragically, the dangerous trend has led to the deaths of five teenagers this year alone. In response to the surge in incidents, the MTA initiated a public service campaign alongside an NYPD effort to engage with the families of teens caught surfing.
NYPD has made 114 juvenile arrests for subway surfing this year, a notable increase from the 50 arrests made in the previous year.
Kemper was satisfied with the impact of their efforts thus far, noting zero fatalities.
“I’m happy to report that we have started the school year with no surfing-related injuries or fatalities.”
The NYPD’s drone deployment is intended to deter young people from subway surfing by providing surveillance in known hotspots. The drones have already proven effective in aiding arrests, capturing footage that is later used to inform parents or guardians about their children’s involvement in such activities.
“How many times have you interviewed moms and dads who say, ‘My kid would never do something like that’? Guess what? The video doesn’t lie,” NYPD Assistant Commissioner Kaz Daughtry told WABC News.
In addition to parental notification, officers will inform the teen’s school about the incident.
Despite progress, the authorities remain vigilant, recognizing the potential dangers associated with this risky behavior.
“When they are trying to get down from subway surfing, the train conductor may step on the brakes a little too hard, and that’s when they lose their balance and can slip and get crushed by the train,” Daughtry warned.
