After shooting NYPD Officer Dennis Vargas in the Bronx Tuesday night, Rameek Smith was shot dead by police. Thankfully, Vargas is already home from the hospital. While Smith’s family may mourn him; we won’t. But we will spare a moment to say our last goodbyes to a few myths propagated by progressives in the ongoing rhetorical gunfight over how to keep the city safe.
Myth one: Fare evasion enforcement is an utter waste. In March 2020, cops caught Smith trying to get on the subway at Coney Island without paying — and found a loaded .32-caliber weapon on him. Not everyone who jumps a turnstile is a violent criminal, of course, but, according to the folks who run the MTA, “people who commit robberies and violent crimes generally don’t bother with MetroCard swipes or OMNY taps.” Even if the vast majority of fare evaders just get ticketed and not arrested, more enforcement can identify people with outstanding warrants or weapons.
Myth two: Mayor Eric Adams’ reanimated versions of the previously plainclothes anti-crime units disbanded under Mayor Bill de Blasio do no good and lots of harm. Vargas, a member of one of those now-uniformed units, was sitting with his partner in an unmarked car when they spotted Smith on the street and pursued him, thinking he was carrying an illegal weapon. He was, this time a Glock 9mm, stolen in Virginia.
