NYPD transit commander punished for allegedly faking NYC subway crime stats

The head of an NYPD transit district in Queens was stripped of his command amid allegations that he had police reports falsified to downplay subway crimes on his watch, sources tell The Post.

Capt. Steven Hyland, who headed Transit District 20 in Jamaica, allegedly had two sergeants and a lieutenant under his command falsify reports — even forging signatures — to play down assaults and grand larcenies in the subway system, the law enforcement sources said.

NYPD Capt. Steven Hyland was stripped of his command at Transit District 20 for allegedly falsifying reports to downplay subway crime, sources said.NYPD

In one incident, Hyland allegedly ordered a cop to change a complaint marked “legit” to snuff it out.

“This dude was so bad, he victimized the victim,” one source said.

Now, the veteran cop has been reassigned to a lesser detail in the Brooklyn court system after bringing internal charges against him Wednesday.

Police brass received one complaint regarding Hyland falsifying a report – prompting the department to launch its own audit, finding three more, sources said.

“When the police commissioner learned this was an investigation she told all parties to take the matter incredibly serious,” another source said. “He was transferred immediately.”

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch took over New York’s Finest late last year with a promise to clean up the department — vowing to take on the so-called “old boys club” inside the department.

After less than one month on the job, she shuffled brass and eliminated perks.

Meanwhile, subway safety continues to be a major source of concern for Big Apple straphangers despite an overall drop in transit crime stats in recent months.

Sources said NYPD Capt. Steen Hyland had cops forge crime reports at his Queens transit command. He has now been transferred.Christopher Sadowski

The NYPD confirmed that an audit of the district’s reports found that a “handful” were “intentionally misclassified.”“The NYPD takes the proper classification of complaint reports with the utmost seriousness,” the department said. “Those complaint reports were immediately reviewed and correctly reclassified.”

“The NYPD takes the proper classification of complaint reports with the utmost seriousness, and there is zero tolerance for any intentional misconduct related to crime reporting,” the NYPD said in a statement. 

“While those few reports did not significantly impact crime numbers in Transit District 20, there is no tolerance for such misconduct.”

Hyland could not immediately be reached for comment.

https://nypost.com/2025/03/19/us-news/nypd-transit-commander-demoted-for-allegedly-faking-subway-crime-stats-victimized-the-victim/