NEW YORK (PIX11) – Weapon metal detectors could arrive at New York City subway stations as early as Thursday, Mayor Eric Adams said this week.
The detectors are part of a pilot program with Evolv Technology, though Adams on Tuesday said the provider could change depending on the pilot. The plan is to expand the program to every subway station in New York City.
“Eventually, every turnstile is going to be able to identify if someone is carrying a gun,” Adams said Tuesday.
It was not immediately clear which stations would see the detectors first, but larger stations are likely.
Adams announced the detectors earlier this year, showing off the technology that looks like a traditional metal detector. They are similar to technology used in hospitals and sporting events, Adams said.
Subway crime has been a particular concern for officials after a slew of high-profile incidents, including a shooting in the Bronx that killed one person and injured five others and several attacks on subway conductors.
The detectors have faced pushback from advocates who question their effectiveness and say they could threaten New Yorkers’ privacy.
“They are an unjustified invasion of privacy, and put people’s lives – particularly those of our clients, the majority of whom are people of color – at risk from the panic that an inevitable false alarm would induce,” said Diane Akerman, an attorney with Legal Aid’s Digital Forensics Unit.
The Legal Aid Society drew attention to a New York Daily News report that found Evolv Technologies’ CEO had said subways were not a “good use-case” for the technology.
"New Yorkers want a safe subway system that works. These scanners will create significant inconvenience, adding congestion and delays," Akerman said.
