Reports of recent attacks on subway goers have had New York residents calling for more security on the city's subway system. Data is actually mixed on whether the subway is more dangerous. Though overall crime on the system is lower than previous years, the number of riders is also down, which has pushed the per rider crime rate up higher than in the past.
Mayor Bill de Blasio has said he will add 250 more police officers to the subways to beef up presence, even as the mayor, police and transit officials insist that the subway is safe. The added presence adds to the more than 3,000 officers already patrolling the subway system, which happens to be the largest force in the subway system in 25 years, according to de Blasio. In addition to police officer presence, around 80 unarmed, trained auxiliary officer volunteers have been assigned to 20 of the busiest subway stations.