Heightened security in New York area for Fourth of July
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Thousands of NYPD officers were on patrol Saturday, monitoring the crowds and looking for anything suspicious ahead of the Macy's Fireworks show. They have been on alert for days now.
"The eyes of the country, the eyes of the world are on us, millions of people will be here - up to us to keep it safe," said Police Commissioner William Bratton.
With that, Commissioner Bratton turned out some of 7,000 police officers - the most assigned to the annual 4t of July fireworks since 2008.
"We plan, we train, and tonight we go into motion, and we execute," says NYPD Counterterrorism Chief James Waters.
The department is executing an enormous operation with as many as 3 million expected to watch the fireworks, shooting off from 5 barges in the East River, with more viewing areas than last year, amid an increased threat of attacks inspired by ISIS.
It is what police do not know that concerns them, and they are pulling out all the stops, not just on the East River, but miles away.
Eyewitness News found a random checkpoint in Midtown on Saturday afternoon, as the MTA police pulled over cars to be checked by a bomb-sniffing dog. It is just another layer of protection checked by a bomb-sniffing dog, and just another layer of protection, officers say should make you confident that Saturday night's festivities will be problem-free.
"We encourage everybody to come down, have good time, and when you see all that protection in its layers, it is just one more reason to feel safe and secure," said NYPD Deputy Commissioner John Miller.
The New Jersey State Police is set deploy troopers to Liberty State Park in Jersey City for the Independence Day festival and fireworks display Saturday. State Police boats, equipped with radiation detection devices, will patrol the waterways, conduct enhanced infrastructure checks, and coordinate with the New Jersey State Police Aviation Bureau, and marine units from the NYPD and other cooperating agencies.
Aerial patrols will lend support to the marine units and monitor critical infrastructure, while on land, mobile patrols will also be equipped with radiological detection equipment. Additionally, troopers in the area will conduct various traffic details and assist other units as needed.
"This a comprehensive, coordinated effort with the NYPD based on shared information and leveraging mutual tactical assets to safeguard the most popular Independence Day celebration in the country," said Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police.
Troopers will be on the lookout for any and all suspicious activity, but members of the public are our best defense against terrorism. If you see something, say something.
