NEW YORK (LOOTPRESS) – Nearly 200 men have been arrested since June in a sweeping police crackdown on alleged lewd conduct in the men’s restrooms at Penn Station, drawing sharp criticism from lawmakers and LGBTQ+ advocates.
The enforcement effort, led by Amtrak Police, began at the start of Pride Month following public complaints. Officers have targeted the restroom near the Eighth Avenue and 31st Street entrance, which has reportedly become a meeting point for users of the hookup app Sniffies. On one day earlier this month, police made as many as 20 arrests.
Amtrak Deputy Police Chief Martin Conway confirmed the ongoing operation. “We continue to patrol the restrooms and if and when we find any criminal activity, we do make arrests,” he said. Conway also acknowledged that about 20 of those detained were transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Unlike local law enforcement, Amtrak Police are a federal agency and not bound by New York State restrictions on cooperation with immigration authorities. That link to ICE has heightened concerns among immigrant rights groups, particularly under the Trump administration’s expanded deportation priorities.
Reports from The Gothamist allege that undercover officers have been stationed inside bathroom stalls and positioned at urinals, equipped with body cameras to document encounters. Charges have included public lewdness and indecent exposure.
Not all arrests appear to stem from illicit activity. David, a 31-year-old healthcare worker, said he was detained despite only attempting to use the restroom while wearing a rainbow wristband. “I was never arrested in my life. It was traumatizing,” he told The City, adding that he was later released without charges.
The crackdown has also ensnared an off-duty NYPD sergeant, though court records show his case was dismissed.
On Friday, four New York lawmakers issued a letter to Amtrak President Roger Harris condemning the arrests as discriminatory and unnecessary. They expressed “outrage” over what they described as a “hostile arrest campaign” targeting LGBTQ+ individuals, likening it to anti-gay policing tactics from the pre-Stonewall era.
“While Amtrak is entitled to ensure that its facilities are not used for illicit purposes, we do not believe Amtrak should be doing so with a hostile arrest campaign,” the lawmakers wrote.
Amtrak, in a statement to Attitude, defended its strategy: “The Amtrak Police Department has increased patrols at New York Penn Station to reinforce public safety. These enforcement efforts have led to nearly 200 arrests since June 1, effectively curbing disruptive activity across the station.”
The arrests, however, have fueled broader debates about public safety, policing practices, and the treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals in public spaces.
