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CNN Live At Daybreak

Authorities in New York City Ready to Deal With Security Concerns

Aired September 10, 2002 - 05:04   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Authorities in New York City say they are ready to deal with any security concerns surrounding tomorrow's 9/11 events.
CNN's Jason Carroll looks at the changes police have put into place since last June.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As New York prepares to mourn those who lost their lives last September 11, the city's mayor sent a message to those who might want to disrupt the day.

MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, NEW YORK: A fair warning to anybody, whether you're a petty criminal or a terrorist, New York City's Police Department is there to protect all of us.

CARROLL: The man who heads the police department, Commissioner Ray Kelly, says the city in this post-9/11 world is better prepared for a terrorist attack.

COMM. RAY KELLY, NEW YORK POLICE: We've done a lot of training. We'll be doing more training. We've done a lot of training. We've got new equipment. We're working more closely with federal authorities, with other state and local agencies to prepare for another event if, god forbid, it does happen.

CARROLL: The department doesn't want to reveal specific numbers, but expect more officers on the streets, on rooftops above memorial ceremonies, even in the water. NYPD scuba teams are patrolling docks and harbors.

Diver Sergeant John Harkins feels the importance of his job now more than ever.

SGT. JOHN HARKINS, NYPD SCUBA TEAM: It gives you extra emphasis on how important your job is and how important it is to society to keep everybody safe and, you know, their families and everyone, and the loved ones secure.

CARROLL: In the months following September 11, there were announcements about security checkpoints at bridges and tunnels. Not anymore. Kelly says checkpoints will be unannounced.

KELLY: We'll be using this intermittent enforcement strategy for the foreseeable future. We take a fairly robust group of officers, well armed, using detection equipment, bomb dogs, we move them throughout the city to sensitive locations.

CARROLL: Kelly says appropriate attention will be given to the city's national landmarks and religious institutions. He also says his department is used to meeting security challenges. Within the past week, the city hosted the U.S. Open, the NFL concert in Times Square, a special meeting of Congress and the United Nations General Assembly begins this week.

(on camera): Do any of the men or women within the NYPD feel any sort of sense of fatigue? I mean there have been so many events that require so much of their attention.

KELLY: It's possible. I don't think so. I think, on the other hand, there's more of a sense of exhilaration. They're working hard, no question about it. But I think they're on a mission.

CARROLL: A mission the department plans to keep pursuing beyond this September 11.

Jason Carroll, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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