Security increased for major NYC events

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- The city has been at a heightened state of alert for months. After the terrorist attacks in Europe, NYPD commanders made adjustments to New York's counter-terrorism deployments by shifting officers and vehicles based on shifting threat assessments. After the massacre in Las Vegas, the approach is no different.

"We will never stop trying to fight crime and keep people safe. I'll ask as I always do - I ask if anyone sees anything that looks out of the ordinary or something that doesn't feel right to them, call 911, flag down a cop, because public safety is truly a shared responsibility," Cmsr James O'Neill of the New York Police Department told reporters.

Deputy NYPD Commissioner John Miller added that after Las Vegas, the police would start training hotel staff how to spot gun and rifle cases guests may carry. The police already train hotel workers how to spot suspicious guest behavior, but this week have added this new component so they understand "what does a gun case look like, as opposed to a golf bag." The training includes not only security staff but housekeeping staff because they have what Miller called "the best observation ability to spot something suspicious."

So-called "soft targets" like the city's subway system have seen stepped-up surveillance, and so did Yankee Stadium.

It is second only to Dodger Stadium in capacity, able to hold just under 55,000 people. A Las Vegas-style attack is less of a concern because of security at the gates.

High above the stadium's fans, were an elite team of counter snipers, there to make sure the playoffs remained a safe night for all.

On the ground were police dogs, heavy armor, and of course bag checks and metal detectors.

The police presence was heavy inside and outside the stadium.

The NYPD also had heavy foot patrols out at the end of the game to make sure that fans could make it safely from the stadium to the subway or garage.

What authorities must guard against is an attack similar to what happened at the Ariana Grande concert in Great Britain, where the choke-points outside the security zone are vulnerable.

"I want to urge everyone who lives or works here, everyone who visits New York to keep coming out enjoying the city, all this great city has to offer. New Yorkers do not make decisions based on fear," O'Nell said.