NYPD beefing up training against drone threats during the World Cup, 'America 250' celebrations
The nation's largest police force is training officers and buying new equipment to counter the threat weaponized drones could pose to the FIFA World Cup, America 250 and other upcoming high-profile events in the Big Apple.
The NYPD announced Thursday that is buying $6.5 million in drone mitigation equipment and giving counterterrorism officers special training.
"We are preparing for this threat with the seriousness it deserves," NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said during a news conference.
The commissioner cited the proliferation of weaponized drones on the battlefields of Ukraine and Iran and said it is the one threat that she said, "keeps me up at night."
She declined to elaborate when asked whether there was a specific threat involving weaponized drones but said, "It would be a mistake to ignore the technology."
The Justice Department is expected to issue new rules granting local police departments the ability to take down drones, an ability until now reserved largely for the FBI.
"It wasn't a threat years ago," NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Counterterrorism Rebecca Weiner said. "It is now."
The World Cup is set to kick off on June 11 in cities across North America. The championship match is scheduled to take place July 19 at MetLife Stadium, just outside New York City in New Jersey.
The city is also scheduled to hold World Cup related events, including watch parties, throughout the five boroughs including in Rockefeller Center.
New York is also set to host several "America 250" celebrations during the July 4th weekend, including the annual Macy's 4th of July fireworks display.
