Officials in New York City revealed a pilot program on Thursday to implement handheld gun scanners in the subway system to enhance safety and reduce violence underground.
Mayor Eric Adams mentioned that the scanners will be set up at specific stations after a 90-day waiting period mandated by law.
“Ensuring the safety of New Yorkers in the subway system and preserving their trust in the system is crucial for keeping New York the safest metropolis in America,” Adams stated. The announcement also included plans to deploy extra outreach personnel to assist individuals with mental health issues living in the system.
Adams mentioned that authorities will seek companies with expertise in weapons detection technology, and eventually install the scanners in select subway stations to assess their effectiveness further.
The scanner, showcased by Mr. Adams and law enforcement officials at a news conference in Lower Manhattan, was developed by Evolv, a publicly traded company facing allegations of manipulating software test results to exaggerate the scanner’s effectiveness. The company is currently under investigation by U.S. trade regulators and financial regulators.
Evolv’s CEO, Peter George, described the AI-enabled scanner as utilizing “a secure ultra-low frequency electromagnetic field and advanced sensors for concealed weapons detection.”
Jerome Greco, overseeing attorney for the Legal Aid Society’s digital forensics division, cautioned that gun detection systems may trigger false alarms and cause unnecessary panic.
City officials have not disclosed the specific locations where the scanners will be deployed. A demonstration at the Fulton Street station showed the device beeping when an officer with a holstered gun passed, but not reacting to an officer with a cell phone or other electronic device. No false alarms were noted.
While violent incidents in the city’s subways are infrequent, recent high-profile shootings have highlighted safety concerns. The city recorded five murders in the subway system last year, a decrease from the previous year. The installation of the scanners follows a recent fatal accident at an East Harlem subway station, reinforcing the urgency of subway safety measures.
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Source: www.theguardian.com
