By: Emily Nixon
In response to multiple excessive force allegations, the fare enforcement branch of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will be suspended until a formal review of training and policies can be conducted, according to MTA Chair Janno Lieber at a Press Conference in Ozone Park, Queens, on Oct. 22.
“Last week, I ordered an immediate investigation into an incident involving our bus fare enforcement teams, the EAGLE teams, and a customer in Brooklyn,” said Lieber. “I was not happy that leadership of the MTA, and even New York City Transit, didn’t even hear about that episode until more than a week afterwards.”
The Evasion and Graffiti Lawlessness Eradication (EAGLE) teams were created in 2008, but were expanded and redeployed to the bus lines to ensure riders were paying their fair share in 2023, according to an MTA press release on Aug. 3, 2023.
Kyle Taylor, a rider who is now suing the MTA and the New York City Transit Authority (NYC Transit) for $25 million, alleged that he was assaulted by four EAGLE team members despite having paid his fare with a paper transfer, according to PIX 11.
In a video shared by 1010 Wins, Taylor can be seen being pushed into the corner of a bus shelter by four EAGLE team officers in vests and thrown to the ground in a tackle-style takedown.
“I’m in pain. I can’t sleep at night,” said Taylor, carrying his arm in a sling at a press conference on Oct. 14 in front of the NYC Transit Office, as reported by New York 1. “I don’t wanna get on the bus no more cause I’m afraid. Anything could happen to me.”
The investigation will be completed by an independent group within NYC Transit, called Special Investigations and Review, according to President of NYC Transit Demetrius Crichlow at a board meeting on Oct. 28. The investigation should be completed by “mid to late next week,” he added.
“We’re doing a top-to-bottom review of process [and] procedures related to the EAGLE teams and doing an investigation specific to those individuals,” said Crichlow. “That information will be shared with the chair, and I think some of the details will be shared with the board, particularly what our follow-up measures are going to be taking, and how we’re going to address many of the issues that are found.”
Many groups have come out calling for the EAGLE teams to be disbanded and pulled from service entirely, such as Riders Alliance and the New York Immigration Coalition. Both groups jointly published an opinion piece in the New York Daily News calling out the “fiscal and human costs” of retaining the enforcement team.
“Even when protocol is followed, buses being stopped and boarded by officials asking for proof of payment can be hard to distinguish from someone demanding your immigration papers,” stated the piece.
The organizations offered a different solution to fix the MTA system, other than EAGLE team enforcement.
“While brutal enforcement tactics won’t fix the bus, fast, free, and (importantly) funded service will do wonders for riders, transit operations, and the city and state that rely on riders showing up to work, shop, and take care of one another.”
Despite calls for the EAGLE team’s termination, Lieber reinforced their purpose within the transit system, while acknowledging that some adjustments needed to be made.
“We know that we cannot continue to finance the system we have if everybody says, ‘fares are optional. I just choose not to pay,’ but we have to do it in a way that’s consistent with our values and with the professionalism that we all expect from not just law enforcement or rule enforcement.”
In the review process, the need for more public awareness and accessibility to file complaints against transit workers became a priority, according to Lieber during the Oct. 28 Board Meeting.
“We’re gonna start to publicize […] how if you have an interaction with an MTA employee that you need to complain about for whatever reason, this is how you do it, so that the public has awareness of that process.”
Lieber explained how such complaints are currently handled within the department at the board meeting.
“When there are complaints, as Demetrius said, they go through a special investigation which is an independent investigation,” said Lieber. “Discipline may be applied in those circumstances depending on the outcome.”
Public groups have continued to criticize the EAGLE team’s tactics, such as Passengers United, a grassroots coalition for true equity, accessibility, safety and sustainability in public transportation.
“There is no excuse for aggression or violence from fare inspectors. It damages public trust in both the MTA and the public transit that moves our city,” stated a Passengers United Instagram post on Oct. 15. “Bus riders deserve better.”
At the time of this article’s release, the investigation is still ongoing with the EAGLE Team suspended indefinitely.
Once the investigation is complete, riders can expect the redeployment of the EAGLE officers with new policies and processes for a safer, fairer ride, according to Lieber.