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Lax Oversight and Misconduct Raise Questions About $35M Security Contract
In a troubling twist to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s multimillion-dollar plan to combat fare evasion, private security guards hired to deter turnstile jumping are instead being seen helping fare-beaters enter for free—or neglecting their posts altogether.
At Manhattan’s busy Herald Square station, The New York Post witnessed multiple occasions where Allied Universal Security Services guards opened emergency exit gates to let people pass without paying. One such officer, Romuald Zampou, admitted the job comes with limitations.
READ: Allied Universal Ranked Among America’s Most Trusted Companies by Newsweek
“Whenever the gate opens, nobody wants to pay,” said Zampou, 52, a Bronx resident who works five eight-hour shifts a week. “They say, ‘You’re not a cop,’ and you can’t stop it. Once they cross the gate, you have to let them in.”
Zampou explained that commuters frequently offer excuses—like broken phones or MetroCards with no funds—and often enter in pairs using a single fare swipe. “Most people don’t want to pay,” he said.
Millions Spent, But Are Results Justifying the Cost?
In 2022, the MTA signed a multimillion-dollar contract with Pennsylvania-based Allied Universal, the world’s largest private security firm, to curb rampant fare evasion, which is estimated to cost the agency up to $800 million annually. That contract now includes 1,000 armed and unarmed officers across the subway system. To date, the MTA has paid Allied over $35 million.
Armed officers, who make up to $100 an hour, and unarmed officers, who earn up to $25 an hour, are tasked with visually monitoring stations, reporting illegal activity, and deterring fare evasion through presence and patrols—not enforcement.
But multiple reports suggest that many guards are failing even these minimal expectations.
“Not a Cop”: A System with No Teeth
Zampou’s comments reveal a critical flaw in the MTA’s strategy: Allied guards have no authority to stop or detain fare evaders. As a result, many simply act as bystanders, watching fare-beaters pass through emergency exits with little resistance.
“Once the gate is open, others just rush in,” Zampou explained. “You can’t close the gate on them. They tell you you’re just security, not a cop.”
Despite the limitations, MTA data claims fare evasion at guard-monitored gates has dropped 36%. But The Post’s observations paint a different picture, with multiple unguarded entrances and officers visibly disengaged from their duties.
Sleeping on the Job and Long Breaks
At the West 96th Street station, reporters observed two armed officers spending the first hour of their shifts smoking outside—one puffing a cigar, the other a cigarette—before stepping away for coffee. Meanwhile, parts of the station remained unmonitored. Other guards were spotted chatting with NYPD officers or seen at nearby diners, allegedly passing time during paid shifts.
Insiders allege that some officers regularly sleep in their cars or loiter offsite, while little is done to enforce accountability. “The higher-ups are all aware of what’s going on,” said one source. “And the MTA keeps paying that money each month.”
The MTA has long been accused of poor financial management. It once considered spending $1 million in federal funds on a study to “understand the mind” of fare evaders. Even U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has publicly criticized the agency for asking for more federal funding despite ongoing oversight issues.
Public Reaction and Agency Response
“Holding an exit gate open for riders to enter without paying is illegal and unfair to millions of New Yorkers who do pay,” said MTA spokesperson Kayla Shults. She emphasized that the rule applies to all individuals, whether employees, vendors, or bystanders.
Still, the discrepancy between reported progress and eyewitness accounts raises serious concerns. Despite the agency claiming a 30% drop in fare evasion system-wide, visual evidence and insider reports suggest that much of the problem remains unresolved.
Allied Universal did not respond to requests for comment.
A Costly Symbol of Inefficiency?
With the MTA juggling a $20 billion budget, fare hikes, and controversial programs like congestion pricing, critics argue that pouring tens of millions into an ineffective private security contract only underscores deeper issues. Without enforcement authority or meaningful accountability, these officers risk becoming little more than expensive window dressing.
As one transit rider at Herald Square put it: “If the guards won’t stop people and the cops aren’t here, what’s the point?”
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