MTA announces police patrols on LIRR & Metro-North trains to halt rise in crime

Extra police patrols are coming to Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North trains due to a rise in crime.

News 12 Staff

Sep 20, 2022, 2:59 AM

Updated 815 days ago

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Extra police patrols are coming to Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North trains due to a rise in crime.
The MTA announced Monday that they will have officers ride on the train with passengers.
Starting in January, around 60 officers will start their day at 5 a.m. boarding LIRR and Metro-North trains, riding into the city during the early rush and then making the return trip during the evening.
"These officers will be specially trained for train patrol," said John Mueller, chief of police for the MTAPD. "Two officers start on either side of the platform, they get on the trains, and they walk to the middle, we want a lot of rider interaction with the officers."
According to the MTA, through the first half of 2022, major crimes on the LIRR were up by 71%.
Jerry Bringmann, chairman of the Long Island Rail Road Commuter Council, says the increased police presence is part of an effort to make the trains safer, which will hopefully encourage more people to return to riding the trains.
"It's an improvement...the evil doers aren't going to know where the cops are going to be so they could be any place at any time," Bringmann says.
Commuters tell News 12 that think having officers on the train is a good idea, especially for those with children.
The MTA also says it will have officers with the Special Operations K-9 Unit and Emergency Services Unit on the platforms.