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CNN Live Saturday
Interview With Grant Arthur
Aired May 24, 2003 - 18:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. Park Service Police are using a new boat to patrol and protect New York's harbor against terrorism. CNN's Jamie Colby when a long for the ride.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMIE COLBY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): So Sarge, tell me why it is important that you have this vehicle available, especially this weekend?
SGT. GRANT ARTHUR, U.S. PARK POLICE: This is all part of our effort to provide security for the national icons, including the Statue of Liberty, to be specific in this case. And other areas that we patrol, which get into shallow water and rough water. This boat, as we said, is equipped with water jets instead of propellers. It allows us to get into shallow areas and makes it very maneuverable for coming up along other vessels and just getting into areas that we just can't get into with conventional boats.
COLBY: So, shall we go for a spin?
ARTHUR: Sure.
COLBY: Not to the greatest day for boating, but...
ARTHUR: No, but this boat will handle it. The Catamaran hull makes it real nice. It will be a comfortable ride.
This boat is very quick. Like I say, it is probably one of our fastest boats. It definitely improves our response time.
COLBY: What's been the most challenging work that you've done out on the water?
ARTHUR: Since 9/11 the importance has been, you know, lifted greatly on the boats, as we see in the busy harbor like this that you kind of realize that it is kind of wide open. We really need to put more of an emphasis on our marine response. We're kind of like the first line of defense. So we really put a lot of effort and research and money into our marine unit to try to meet these new challenges that we have.
COLBY: It is an awesome responsibility. What are some of the other landmarks that you keep an eye on from the water?
ARTHUR: Well, up in the harbor, basically, Liberty Island and Ellis Island, which is right next to it. The big draw there, you know, real national icon. A lot of people here that live in New York have never even been to the Statue of Liberty. They kind of just take for granted that its there, but I think it would be devastating of something should happen to it.
COLBY: What do you think about when you pull in and you don't see the Twin Towers shining back at you?
ARTHUR: This is a constant reminder, you have to keep your vigilance and hope something like that never happens again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: That's Jamie Colby on for the ride on the "Moose" in the New York Harbor.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired May 24, 2003 - 18:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. Park Service Police are using a new boat to patrol and protect New York's harbor against terrorism. CNN's Jamie Colby when a long for the ride.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMIE COLBY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): So Sarge, tell me why it is important that you have this vehicle available, especially this weekend?
SGT. GRANT ARTHUR, U.S. PARK POLICE: This is all part of our effort to provide security for the national icons, including the Statue of Liberty, to be specific in this case. And other areas that we patrol, which get into shallow water and rough water. This boat, as we said, is equipped with water jets instead of propellers. It allows us to get into shallow areas and makes it very maneuverable for coming up along other vessels and just getting into areas that we just can't get into with conventional boats.
COLBY: So, shall we go for a spin?
ARTHUR: Sure.
COLBY: Not to the greatest day for boating, but...
ARTHUR: No, but this boat will handle it. The Catamaran hull makes it real nice. It will be a comfortable ride.
This boat is very quick. Like I say, it is probably one of our fastest boats. It definitely improves our response time.
COLBY: What's been the most challenging work that you've done out on the water?
ARTHUR: Since 9/11 the importance has been, you know, lifted greatly on the boats, as we see in the busy harbor like this that you kind of realize that it is kind of wide open. We really need to put more of an emphasis on our marine response. We're kind of like the first line of defense. So we really put a lot of effort and research and money into our marine unit to try to meet these new challenges that we have.
COLBY: It is an awesome responsibility. What are some of the other landmarks that you keep an eye on from the water?
ARTHUR: Well, up in the harbor, basically, Liberty Island and Ellis Island, which is right next to it. The big draw there, you know, real national icon. A lot of people here that live in New York have never even been to the Statue of Liberty. They kind of just take for granted that its there, but I think it would be devastating of something should happen to it.
COLBY: What do you think about when you pull in and you don't see the Twin Towers shining back at you?
ARTHUR: This is a constant reminder, you have to keep your vigilance and hope something like that never happens again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: That's Jamie Colby on for the ride on the "Moose" in the New York Harbor.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
