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NYC MTA Eagle teams ordered to stand down after allegations of excessive force
ABC7 New York • • business
Key Points:
- The MTA has suspended its Eagle Team fare enforcement unit following a video showing a violent incident in the Bronx where a man was forcibly removed from a bus and "body slammed" by team members.
- The suspension came after the MTA learned about the August incident only recently, prompting Chair Janno Lieber to halt the team's field operations pending a review of protocols.
- Kyle Taylor, who experienced a separate violent encounter with the Eagle Team despite paying his fare, criticized the suspension as insufficient and is pursuing legal action.
- Fare evasion, the Eagle Team's focus, cost New York City nearly $1 billion last year, but activists are calling for stricter accountability measures, including mandatory body cameras for team members.
- The MTA plans a comprehensive review of the Eagle Team's operations before deciding on reinstatement, amid ongoing public scrutiny and calls for reform.
