County and police on heightened alert for holidays

To implement a heightened alert around Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, two related campaigns to increase security in Nassau County were announced by government and police officials last Friday.

Local religious leaders joined Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano, New York State Assemblyman David McDonough, and Police Commissioner Thomas Dale at Temple B’nai Sholom in Rockville Centre to announce increased police patrols and the inauguration of Nassau County’s “See Something, Say Something” program. A third safety campaign provided responses for an “active shooter” incident.

Officers working their posts are given the schedules of every temple, synagogue or site where and when services take place, explained Inspector Kenneth Lack, Commanding Officer of the Public Information Office of the Nassau County Police Department. As part of the “park, walk and talk” program, said Lack, “from time to time the officers park and get out of their cars and talk to the rabbis and congregants, to introduce themselves and deal with any possible issues or situations. We don’t know what’s normal, we rely on the congregants, on the community to help us do our jobs to keep everyone safe.”

“All religious leaders should know that the Nassau County Police Department will take any and all threats to public safety seriously as nothing is more important than the safety of our residents,” said Mangano.

The “See Something, Say Something” campaign was started by the MTA, is used in New York City and was adopted nationally, said Lack. “If you see something suspicious, an unattended bag, package, backpack in a high density area such as stadiums, trains, shopping malls, where people congregate, contact the police. Call 911 for unattended bags or suspicious packages. In an era of bombs, they would bring the bomb squad.” They will be distributing 2000 posters with the message throughout Nassau County at 711s, train stations, transit hubs, shopping malls, on NICE buses and on certain routes, and on the large advertising areas at bus stops. Lack urged that if you find a suspicious object, “stay away from it, call 911 and direct officers to the object. They will evaluate the situation and if it meets the criteria of a suspicious object, they will evacuate the area to 300 feet, the minimum safe distance. If it’s a public safety hazard they will call in the bomb squad and either use a remote control robot or a guy in a bomb suit approaches on foot and takes the package and puts it in a bomb proof container, a large steel ball, 12 feet in diameter on a trailer with a hatch on top like on a ship or submarine. They put the device inside and bring it to a safe place in Nassau County and explode it there.”

Lack noted that there are 12 people in the bomb squad and that all bomb technicians are specially trained at a school run by the ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) in Huntsville, Alabama. All United States bomb squads have the same training, he said, so if they are needed for regional response teams for a national crisis they are all “using the same play book, trained in the same technique. If they have to combine two squads they can work seamlessly together.”

“Residents can help be the eyes and ears for the police department,” said Mangano.  “Don’t assume a package, bag or box was left somewhere by accident. If you see anything suspicious, report it. Let the police know.  Dial 911.” 

In the fourth briefing of its kind, United States Congressman Peter King joined County Executive Mangano at the Applied Science Foundation for Homeland Security in Bethpage to brief over 100 various members of clergy and security personnel from Nassau County on how to respond to an “active shooter.” Three other similar demonstrations were held previously for public and private school administrators. “An active shooter,” said Lack, “continues to shoot, as opposed to someone who comes in and takes hostages. We form a five man team in diamond formation and enter the institution to engage the shooter to stop the violence using whatever means necessary.”

People caught in an “active shooter” attack should react “much like being in a fire,” stressed Lack. “Get out of the building, get away from the violence. Secrete yourself. Get away from the danger. If you can’t get out of the building, find cover that a bullet can’t go through like a brick wall, or hide under a desk so the shooter can’t see you. Obviously it won’t stop a bullet. It’s preferred that you get out of the building.”

“If you are unsure about something,” said Mangano, “or your gut tells you something may not be right, call our Nassau County Police Department tip line at 516 573-7720.”