New York Subway Riders Get a Surprise This Morning

[KenFSU]

NEW YORK -- Subway platforms may be a little more crowded than usual starting today -- thanks to beefed up security measures. The NYPD rolled out "Operation Torch." Heavily armed police units began patrolling the subways Thursday morning.

Commissioner Kelly announced the deployments this morning. The teams made quite the impression on commuters this morning, in fact some said they were a little frightened.

"I like the idea of them doing this, I just wish they found a way to not be so in your face with it," one commuter said.

This force looks similar to the "hercules" team, only with a metrocard. Thanks to a massive federal transit grant New York City subways received a boost in terms of security, to deter terrorist attacks.

The job of these teams is to make daily patrols inside the subway system, 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.

Each torch team will work 12-hour shifts and have a bomb-sniffing dog and six officers: A sergeant, a dog handler, and four officers from the NYPD's emergency service unit.

The show of force no doubt made many riders feel safer, although some weren't sure how much of a difference it will make.

The police department's transit division already conducts random bag checks - 48,000 since 2005 - and inspects subway tunnels and ventilation systems in search of explosives. Hidden cameras register any suspicious action.

Straphangers had mixed reactions.

"If it's going to keep me from being robbed at gunpoint, then I'm alright with it. Or, you know, killed in a terrorist act," said Hillel Skolnik.

"I find it kind of scary. ... The idea of people with guns all around doesn't actually make me feel safer for some reason," countered Carol Ann Daniel of Brooklyn.

"It's not that I don't like them making sure. I don't want to see it," Daniel said as Clipper's bark ricocheted around the subway station. "It kind of feels like you're in a war zone."

Funding for operation torch comes from a $153 million federal transit security grant to new york state that was announced a few months ago.

The money will also be used to improve communications equipment, and possibly an increase in the number of cameras as well.

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Other, of many, many articles:

CBS - Machine Gun Toting Officers to Police NYC City

AP - NYPD Officers to Patrol Subways with Dogs, Machine Guns
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It's bullshit like this that absolutely, instantaneously ruins my fine afternoon mood. We supposedly live in this wonderful land of freedom and liberty, and we have assault squads with dogs and fucking MACHINE GUNS pointed at people going to work in the morning. In America. Bought and paid for by our own tax dollars. To supposedly stop some random terrorist attack that stats show a person has ten times less chance of dying from than a lightning strike. It just does not make an ounce of sense, and I'm appalled (yet sadly not shocked) that people in New York put up with this?

No vote. No forewarning. You just show up, and boom, goon squads with machine guns and dogs searching bags and intimidating honest Americans.

If you want to know what the "police state" that civil liberty advocates warn against looks like, just go to the airport these days, or I guess now, ride the Subway. Basic human dignity stripped away in the name of so-called security.

Letting this crap slide by is a slippery slope.

Next will be the federal buildings, public parks, libraries, and schools.

Before you know it, these goons will be on every corner sticking their fucking gun in your face, asking you where you're going, and like with the Subway, searching your persons without a warrant.

Some might find it alarmist, but I though this MTV commercial was brilliant the first time I saw it, and I think it's worth reposting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTOuq4pY10o

[scaleybark]

This will certainly make it more difficult for Bronson to do his thing.

[fightingosprey07]

I understand the added security, but are the flak helmets and M16's really necessary?

[jbm32206]

That's what you see overseas, and it was only a matter of time before we'd see them here.

[Midway ®]

That is the trend, militarization of civillian police forces.
It is a back door method of dismantling the The Posse Comitatus Act, under the guise of "Keeping you safe".

This is an absurd notion, having police officers in the subway armed with automatic weapons.

Just the logistics of firing these weapons in a crowded subway would create additional danger for hundreds of innocent passengers.

But it's a great photo op, and I am sure that those photos will deter all the Al Queida that were planning mayhem on the subway.