Brooklyn, NY — As the widow of a man slain on a Brooklyn subway reflects on the past year without her husband, criticisms of recent governmental safety proposals are pointed and painfully personal. Jakeba Dockery, whose husband Richard Henderson was the victim of a deadly dispute on the 3 train, claims that New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s new safety measures fall short of what is needed to genuinely secure the subway.
Last January, the city was shaken by news of Henderson, a 45-year-old school crossing guard, who was fatally shot while intervening in a fight over loud music. This incident marked the first murder on the subway for the year, and was followed by nine others in a series of violent acts that rocked the community.
In her “State of the State” address, Gov. Hochul introduced plans to enhance subway safety, primarily focusing on increased police presence from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. While the intention has been met with some community support, Dockery remains skeptical. Pointing out that her husband was killed before the evening hours, she suggests that a 24-hour law enforcement presence might be more effective.
The local response to the violence has been one of intensified fear and anger, conditions Dockery says have only worsened since her husband’s death. In bereavement, she has not returned to the subway system, recalling her previous affection for New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which she now regards with dread.
Personal tragedy has driven Dockery to action. Over the past year, she has established a nonprofit, “Richard’s Way,” dedicated to her husband’s commitment to helping children. Additionally, she is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the capture of Henderson’s killer, expressing frustration over the absence of significant leads in the case.
In efforts to advocate for more targeted local measures, Dockery has called for an increase in patrols specifically along the 3 line and the East New York area, citing these locations as critical points needing attention to prevent further tragedies.
The family recently marked the first anniversary of Henderson’s death in a poignant manner, releasing balloons in front of their Crown Heights home as a tribute to his memory. This act of remembrance not only underscores their loss but also serves as a public statement of their ongoing demand for justice and change.
These developments come amid broader discussions about subway safety and public security in New York City. With Dockery’s story capturing both public sympathy and attention, it emphasizes the ongoing debate surrounding the effectiveness of police patrols and the need for comprehensive safety strategies at all hours of the day.
As Dockery hopes for a difference to be made, her activism underscores a crucial question facing New York’s leadership: will increased patrols sufficiently address the root causes of subway violence, or are more extensive reforms necessary to restore safety and confidence among the city’s transit riders?