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New York City Police Department (NYPD) Operating in Heightened Threat Environment Ahead of Times Square New Year’s Eve Celebration
The NYPD continues to operate in a “heightened threat environment” ahead of the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration, with over a million visitors expected to attend the 120th tradition of watching the ball drop.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said there are no credible threats to the event at this time, but the department will deploy a significant number of police resources to ensure public safety.
The department will use elite specialized units, including the emergency services unit, K-9 teams, and drone teams to monitor the crowds and detect any suspicious or unusual activity.
The NYPD will also use mobile drone teams to patrol the area, monitor activity over the water, and deploy bomb sniffing dogs to patrol the area.
The department is taking extra precautions following the suspected terror attack on a Christmas market in Germany last week, which killed five people and injured over 200 others.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner said the department is “calibrated to what’s happening overseas” and is working to prevent vehicle ramming incidents, such as the one in Germany.
The department is also monitoring the emerging threat of the Venezuelan gang known as Tren de Aragua (TdA), but there is no specific threat related to the gang in connection to the Times Square event.
The NYPD will use various security measures, including pickpocket teams, hotel response teams, and “hotel response teams” to monitor for suspicious activity or other “anomalous” events.
Tisch said that all manholes, mailboxes, vending machines, and litter baskets in the “frozen zone” around Times Square will be either sealed or removed, and frozen safety lanes will be created around the event using blocker cars and concrete barriers.
The department is urging crowds to use public transportation to get to the event and has prohibited backpacks, large bags, coolers, chairs, and alcohol in the viewing area.
