NYPD Transit Commander Falsified Subway Crime Stats: Report

QUEENS, NY — A commander of an NYPD transit district in Queens was removed from his position and has been reassigned after he alleged falsified subway crime reports, according to a report.

Capt. Steven Hyland, who was in charge of the Transit District 20 in Jamaica, allegedly had two sergeants and a lieutenant under his command falsify reports to make it appear his district had more favorable assaults and grand larceny statistics, according to a New York Post report.

Sources told the Post that in one notable incident, Hyland allegedly had an officer change a complaint marked “legit” in an attempt to downplay subway crimes.

Hyland was reassigned to a lesser role following an Internal Affairs audit, according to the report.

Police officials found at least four complaints regarding Hyland falsifying a report.

The NYPD confirmed the audit's findings in a statement.

“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 department 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.”