New York Attorney General Letitia James is investigating whether the NYPD is racially biased in its crackdown on subway fare evaders.
“We’ve all read the stories and seen the disturbing videos of men, women, and children being harassed, dragged away, and arrested by officers in our city’s subway system, which is why we are launching an investigation into this deeply troublesome conduct,” James said in a statement.
James has sent a letter to the NYPD asking for fare evasion and other data.
“If groups of New Yorkers have been unfairly targeted because of the color of their skin, my office will not hesitate to take legal action,” James said.
Between October 2017 and June 2019, minorities made up nearly 70 percent of those who received a summons and nearly 90 percent of those arrested for fare evasion.
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