New York – New York City’s transportation officials are considering offering cash rewards to riders who report assaults on transit workers.
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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority says the plan would be similar to a police program that offers rewards for information leading to arrests.
Attacks on MTA workers have increased 30 percent, from 72 in 2010 to 94 last year.
The agency says 40 workers have been attacked so far this year.
Harry Wills of the Transport Workers Union Local 100 tells the New York Post (http://nyp.st/Jk5Umy ) that officials hope the reward will encourage riders who witness an assault to remain on the scene until police arrive.
The union represents 34,000 transit workers.
So if I work for the goverment, they will pay to find the culprit?
Why does a government employee have more rights and protections then me?
What about crime directed against subway riders, which is way up this year? From 1965-1974, there was one cop on every subway train, and at least one cop on every station from 8PM-4AM. The cops were removed, for budgetary reasons. Fast forward nearly forty years, and the situation is no different today, and in fact, may even be worse. Instead of those fancy “terrorist raids”, which the NYCPD is famous for (whereby scores of cops descend upon a given area), why aren’t the cops placed back on the trains, where they are needed?