Massive Deployment of Security Cameras Was Key to Safeguarding Public at New Year's Eve Celebration
To protect people and deter criminals and terrorists, approximately 1,000 security cameras helped law enforcement secure the Times Square area in New York City for the annual New Year's Eve festivities and ball-dropping ceremony this past weekend, according to a USA Today report.
Video surveillance contributes to a safer society, and is instrumental for special events such as the New Year's Eve Time Square event, which can draw more than a million people, according to estimates, to the Times Square area of New York.
Thanks to security efforts, including the massive deployment of video surveillance cameras in a relatively small geographic area, New York City Police Commissioner James O’Neill said the event would be “one of the most well-policed, best-protected events at one of the safest venues in the entire world." There were no reports of serious incidents at the event.
During a Dec. 28 news conference, police department officials said that a secure zone measuring 22 city blocks by three city blocks would be sealed off from vehicular and pedestrian traffic with cement blocks, sand-filled garbage trucks and other vehicles blocking the streets leading into the area.
People entering the secured area were screened at a dozen access points, which would feature metal detectors, "vapor wake" dogs, and officers with portable radiation detectors. Large backpacks were not allowed, and all small bags were searched, the report said.
In addition, detectives were assigned to the many high-rise hotels in the area, which the report said was an effort at "preventing the type of attack that happened in Las Vegas in October."
Downtown Manhattan is has been the site of recent high-profile criminal and terrorist attacks. On Dec. 11, a man set off a bomb in the subway, on Oct. 31, a terrorist drove a truck down a bicycle path, killing eight people, and in May a man drove through crowds of pedestrians for more than three blocks near Times Square killing an 18-year-old.
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