NYC uses drones to reduce subway surfing – NBC New York

After subway surfing killed three young New Yorkers in six weeks, the city is expanding its plan to end the dangerous stunt — with more help from airborne drones and more student-driven announcements of the public service.

Mayor Eric Adams stood steps away from Line 7, one of the most popular subway surfing lines in the city, and held up a photo of someone on top of a subway car.

“This is real. It’s not fun, it’s deadly,” Mayor Adams said Thursday outside PS 11 in Woodside.

So far in 2024 there have been six surfing deaths on the Metro, compared to five in all of 2023. The mayor believes the use of drone technology and even greater involvement of young people in public service announcements will have an impact across the city.

“It’s a combination of the patrol force on the ground. It’s a combination of our One Police Plaza team monitoring these lines based on 311 and 911 data. And it’s a combination of everyday New Yorkers who see this happening and report it to us, and then it’s the young people who are part of the PSAs that we put together,” Adams said.

Mayor Adams and NYPD officials explained that during the subway surfing drone pilot program, officers were able to quickly spot, identify and contact more than 100 people between the ages of 9 and 33. The police plan includes the use of some drones. teams during the after-school hours of 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM on popular lines in the five boroughs.

NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Operations Kaz Daughtry says officers speak to the child’s parents after every surfing incident and subway stop.

“We share the drone images with every parent. Open conversations at home are crucial. Everything starts within the family and by fostering these discussions we can work together to tackle this challenge,” said Daughtry.

It happened on 111th Street in Queens.

The NYPD has also partnered with the Department of Education for anti-subway surfing presentations to approximately 1,300 students so far. The NYC Schools Chancellor says this will be expanded to more schools across the city.

Last year, the city and MTA launched the “Ride Inside, Stay Alive” campaign, designed by high school students. NYC Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos says students have also created posters and recorded PSAs to amplify their voices in the fight against the potentially dangerous effects of peer pressure and social media.

“Our students are our best messengers, which is why we focus not only on student engagement, but also on student empowerment. We know we will continue to raise student voices to draw attention to this issue, and of course we must also directly educate our children about the dangers of subway surfing,” said Aviles-Ramos.

The NYPD and Mayor Adams made it clear that the other big part of the problem is social media, as young people stay motivated by viral videos and fueled by the likes and views they generate. The mayor said he has had conversations with social media companies about the impact of the dangerous videos.

“So we’re going after social media companies and social media platforms. They have a duty not to put profit before public safety,” he said. “We do not glorify violence, hatred or other criminal activity on these websites, and we must stop glorifying subway surfing. Every injury, every death, is 100% preventable,” said NYPD Commissioner Tom Donlon.

Jessica Cunnington reports on a 13-year-old boy who dies while surfing on the subway in Queens.

Adolfo Sanabria was born 13 days before police say he died while surfing on the Queens subway just steps from his home in October. Dozens of friends created a memorial in his honor under the M train tracks near the Forest Avenue station. His devastated mother, Milene Sorzano, warned parents across the city to look at their children’s phones and know what they are doing, and with whom.

On Sunday night, days after Adolfo’s death, police say 13-year-old Krystel Romero and her 12-year-old friend were surfing on the 7 train when they fell. Romero died and her friend is in critical condition.

Norma Nazario’s son Zach died last year after getting caught up in the tragic trend. He was only 15. Nazario stood with city officials Thursday with her son’s funeral card in hand and said she is grateful to Mayor Adams and the NYPD for the drone initiative.

“Social media also plays a role here, and they don’t. No child should have to lose their life, and no other family should have to live without their beloved child. Our message is clear within and stay alive. ,” Nazario said.