NYPD To Deploy “Robocop” In Times Square Subway

Gothamist reports:

A 420-pound, 5-foot-2-inch robocop with a giant camera for a face will begin patrolling the Times Square subway station overnight, the NYPD announced Friday morning. At a press conference held underground in the 42nd Street subway station, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the city is launching a two-month pilot program to test the Knightscope K5 Autonomous Security Robot.

During the press conference, the K5 robot stood silently along with uniformed officers and city officials in suits. The K5 will act as a crime deterrent and provide real-time information on how to best deploy human officers to a safety incident, the mayor said. It features multiple cameras, a button that can connect the public with a real person, and a speaker for live audio communication.

Read the full article. The Times Square subway station is a sprawling multi-block labyrinth with dozens of staircases. This will work out fine.

Mayor Adams proudly compared the costs of the robo-cop to that of a human transit cop: The city is leasing the robot for $9-an-hour.

“This is a good investment of taxpayer dollars. This is below minimum wage, no bathroom breaks, no meal breaks.”https://t.co/vBRDMBr6tL

— Gothamist (@Gothamist) September 22, 2023

Mayor Eric Adams instructed the press to write, “Eric, job well done,” and then tried to make a hand-heart with the robot, which has no arms. https://t.co/XiqPY8lzYP

— VICE (@VICE) September 22, 2023

Mayor Adams, pictured below smiling with the NYPD’s new RoboCop, wants to cut $2.1 billion from education, $1.4 billion from social services, $800 million from homeless aid, $300 million from the FDNY and $200 million from hospitals because NYC doesn’t have the money. https://t.co/75b3rEcokU

— Melanie D’Arrigo (@DarrigoMelanie) September 22, 2023

NYC Mayor Announces New NYPD RoboCop That Needs a Cop to Guard It https://t.co/H50L4hlfq8

— #TuckFrump (@realTuckFrumper) September 22, 2023