Grand Central - 0830hrs, 12/13

[Guest]

I know everyone has seen it before, in Manhattan. 12 or so radio cars, lights and sirens, streaking up or downtown. I've been given a brief explaination of what this is, but today was different.

When I walked out of Grand Central on the 42nd St. Side there were AT LEAST 50 assorted police cars and a field communications unit parked on the street from 5th Ave all the way across to Lexington Ave with their lights on. Even then, more were still arriving. What was going on?

[AFS1970 504]

I don't know if it was the same thing or not, but I saw almost the same response in Times Square about a month or so ago. Someone explained to me that it was a mobilization drill, to see how fast they can get a certain number of units to a certain location.

If that was a drill, I for one commend NYPD for doing drills like this. Around here, people are affraid to use the lights and sirens for a drill, even at a drill field. As a result, we never really get a feel for how long a response would take, or how we perform in a time sensitive scenario.

[Guest]

I spoke to an NYPD member who filled me in. There is one car from every precinct that is assigned to this "task force". They each are responsible for guarding one specific location, but they convene daily at a random location, a high priority location.

The purpose is to show VERY strong and visable showing of police force.

[helicopper 1,050]

The NYPD does large scale mobilization drills regularly. This may involve a single borough task force, multiple task forces and/or a citywide response.

They do sometimes use lights and siren in their response and it is often done at high profile locations in conjunction with the Hercules and Atlas units for the deterrence value.

Or so they say...