Sedrick Simon was killed by a Brooklyn subway practice in 2019.
Sedrick Simon was fatally struck by a Brooklyn subway in 2019 — however practically three years later, the circumstances surrounding his demise stay a thriller.
That’s as a result of the station the place the 36-year-old was killed round 7 a.m. had no cameras to seize what had occurred — and no witnesses have ever come ahead.
“My brother died on the Newkirk Avenue station, he was hit by a practice — to at the present time that’s all we all know,” Jennifer Muhammad, his older sister, not too long ago informed The Submit.
“I can get robbed in entrance of McDonald’s and there’s a digital camera. I don’t know if it was a murder. I don’t know if he was pushed on tracks. I do know nothing.”
Simon’s Dec. 26, 2019 demise prompted Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn to introduce a invoice known as “Sedrick’s Regulation” — which might drive the MTA to put in cameras on all subway platforms.
There wasn’t sufficient political will on the time to show it right into a legislation. However now, Bichotte is reviving the hassle in wake of the April 12 mass taking pictures on a crowded Brooklyn N practice — and after accused gunman Frank James spent practically 30 hours on the lam due to malfunctioning MTA surveillance cameras.
“In 2019, dollars stood in the best way of our security,” mentioned the Brooklyn Democrat, who represents Midwood, the place Simon lived. “If we had cameras, we'd have had a clearer image of Sedrick’s demise, and doubtless slightly extra closure.”
Bichotte believes the invoice — presently in committee and being expedited to hopefully be handed earlier than the legislative session ends in June — may even maintain New Yorkers safer at a time when crime is rising on the subways.
“Folks know that surveillance can also be a deterrent from crime,” she mentioned. “If they're surveillance cameras, you’re extra seemingly to not truly commit the crime.”
A gaggle of Congress members, together with three from New York Metropolis, pressed the MTA for solutions in a blistering April 20 letter about why the cameras had been malfunctioning in the course of the ugly horrific subway assault in Sundown Park — particularly when the company has tens of millions in federal dollars for safety.
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli may even audit the MTA’s subway safety digital camera system within the wake of the catastrophe, The Submit realized, as will Appearing MTA Inspector Common Elizabeth Keating, the company’s high watchdog.
MTA spokesperson Tim Minton mentioned the company is “pleased with a subway digital camera system the NYPD calls the ‘most dependable’ and ‘highest high quality’ of any offering footage within the Metropolis.”
Final month, he famous that there are practically 10,000 cameras monitoring the subway system and that as much as 1% will not be working at any given time, together with for scheduled upkeep.
Bichotte painted a extra sophisticated image of the present surveillance state of affairs underground.
“We might have some cameras which might be there, however they’re not absolutely operational, or … you may’t see the complete platform. We wish to guarantee that it’s mandated. We wish MTA to make sure that their precedence is the security of the passengers,” she mentioned.
Muhammad — who described her brother “Seddy” as a “teddy bear … who would give the shirt off his again to anybody” — mentioned the MTA “didn’t even have the decency to name” her household after his disturbing demise.
“We couldn’t even have a look at his physique as a result of he was mangled by a practice, however but to at the present time I’m unable to inform my mom and father how her son handed,” she mentioned.
She mentioned she hopes the invoice named after her late sibling will present households some closure — ought to one other tragedy on the rails strike once more.
“This invoice will create a degree of accountability for positive, and shifting ahead I hope it'll save lives,” she mentioned. “I don’t need one other demise like my brother’s.”
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