Holy hell, did you see all the guns on the subway today? Apparently, it’s all part of “Operation TORCH,” a new federally funded security initiative.
The NYPD received a $30 million grant to increase subway security in a major way. However, it seems like they are only focusing on major subway hubs.
The police units, part of a new program called Operation TORCH, will focus on major transit hubs, including Times Square, Herald Square and Grand Central Terminal, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said. [1010 WINS]
I’m not sure what good that does. I guess it deters an attack from those stations. However, a terrorist could just get on at a different stop!
All they would have to do is get on a random stop and ride straight into Times Square or Grand Central and detonate a bomb. So I don’t think it makes it any safer from a terrorism perspective.
On a petty crime level like purse snatching and pickpocketing, that will probably go down on the fortified stations, but that’s probably about it.
SUBWAYblogger 
I saw a lot of beggers on the subway this morning, but no guns.
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[…] February to the plans to bring armed security personnel into the subway. Yesterday, SUBWAYblogger saw a few of the first armed teams dispatched as part of Operation Torch, and today, the Daily News writes about rider reaction the […]
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I don’t mind having an increased police presence in our subway system, but you’re completely right about it not stopping “terrorism”. The dogs will help sniff out bombs, the guns and presence will help police respond to situations, beyond that I don’t know. I wonder what units these “torch” cops are from.
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