MTA Boss: Fare Agent Probe Ends Next Week
Demetrius Crichlow told the board that investigations into two violent fare enforcement incidents will conclude by late next week, while EAGLE Teams remain suspended.
By Layla Fontaine ·
A top MTA official stated Wednesday that an internal investigation into two violent confrontations between bus fare agents and riders is set to finish next week. The agency faces pressure to halt its fare enforcement units permanently following the incidents.
MTA New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow provided the timeline during the agency’s board meeting on October 28. He answered a question from board member Janette Sadik-Khan by estimating that the probe will conclude in the middle or late part of the coming week.
The MTA suspended EAGLE Team operations last week while the agency conducts these inquiries. The teams, known as Evasion and Graffiti Lawlessness Eradication Teams, consist of unarmed civilian security officers. A separate, broader review of how these teams operate is also underway.
The City Council’s Progressive Caucus called for the permanent end of EAGLE Team fare enforcement on Tuesday. They sought to stop the use of the squads after the recent altercations. MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber has maintained that these teams are essential to the strategy for stopping fare evasion on buses, though he did not directly answer the council’s demand to disband them.
The probe examines two specific incidents that were captured on video. The first occurred earlier this month in Brooklyn. EAGLE Team members allegedly injured Kyle Taylor, a public school aide. The second incident took place in the Bronx in August. In that confrontation, agents threw a man to the ground and restrained him. Public details regarding the second man remain limited.
A unit within NYC Transit called Special Investigations and Review is leading the probe. This unit reports directly to Crichlow. It is investigating the department that oversees the EAGLE Teams, known as NYC Transit Safety and Security. Crichlow said the results will go to the MTA chair and that some details will be shared with the board. He noted that the agency will outline follow-up measures and how it will address issues found during the review.
It is currently unclear how much of the probe’s findings the MTA will release to the public. Lieber stated that the investigation could lead to discipline for the fare agents. Any punishment would align with the agency’s collective bargaining agreement with the agents’ union.
Board member David Jones asked about the hiring process for EAGLE Team members during the meeting. Many agents are former law enforcement officers. Jones inquired if the MTA reviews past complaints from previous agencies. Crichlow responded that this is not current practice because the agents are civilians. However, he said the agency is exploring the option.
Crichlow stated that the MTA is conferring with human resources and legal teams. They are determining if they can use data on a candidate’s history as an NYPD or Corrections officer for hiring purposes. Later, in a news conference, Crichlow added that EAGLE Team members undergo the same background checks as all other MTA employees.
Lieber was also asked if the MTA is considering body-worn cameras for fare agents. NYPD officers all wear these devices. Lieber responded that it is one of many things the agency is looking at.
