The city continues to insist there's no trend in the past months' flurry of slashings, all the while vowing to crack down own repeat subway criminals and conduct random checks of subway cars—but not because there's any real cause for concern about subway slashings, of course.
None of the recently reported slashings have targeted police officers, but that hasn't stopped the NYPD from putting out a request for 3,000 new pairs of slash-proof gloves.
According to the specifications listed in the department's request for bids from manufacturers, the gloves need to be resistant to abrasions, tears, and needle punctures, have protective liners, and be made of nothing other than genuine goatskin leather. Fancy!
There have been three reported slashings so far this month, on top of those reported in January and February. On March 10th, a woman in Brooklyn was slashed across the neck by a man wearing an American flag bandana as a mask; on March 6th, an Astoria man fatally slashed a storeowner during a violent crime spree; and on March 3rd, a cab driver was slashed in the face after offering three passengers a free ride.
An NYPD spokesperson told the Daily News that the request is unrelated to this year's 20 percent increase in slashings and stabbings in the city. It looks like the last time the department requested slash-proof gloves was in 2010.
