Suburban Police On Watch Amid Terror Worries, Start Of Holiday Season
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Even without a current credible threat against the U.S. mainland, police in the area have stepped up security at large gatherings and have geared up mobile response teams to keep would-be terrorists off guard.
As CBS2's Lou Young reported, the tactical police in suburban departments generally go on high alert starting on Black Friday for the Christmas shopping rush. But this year, the alert has come early – with an eye on Paris and the deadly low-tech terror attacks on soft civilian targets there.
"We have our own countywide Hercules teams and again, they consist of every major jurisdiction within the county, and we can appear anywhere at any time," said White Plains Public Safety Commissioner David Chong.
Suburban departments have banded together to reproduce the kind of high-profile muscle we see in the city. To many, it makes good sense, because there are so many more places to protect.
"Could be at the mall in White Plains, it could be downtown New York, could be on the train. Who knows?" said Steve Shreck of Harrison.
The concern now penetrates deep into suburbia to places that never really worried much before -- west of the Hudson in Nyack, for instance.
"It's absolutely terrifying," said Nyack Mayor Jen White. "We had a giant skate park opening this weekend and of course, I had a moment where I went, 'Oh no, please let this not be something on their radar.'"
And it is seen as a sad commentary that communities have become so proficient in dealing with active shooter scenarios – because there have been so many real active shooter incidents and if anything can happen anywhere, there is really no safe place to run.
"People are concerned. People are thinking about the people who lost their lives," said White Plains Mayor Tom Roach. "But I haven't heard anyone say they're going to alter their plans."
Everywhere CBS2 went on Monday, people said they are not changing their movements this season.
"I'm not going to let them scare me," said Susan Popell of Riverdale, the Bronx. "I'm going do like I normally do. I'm going everywhere."
A few people, though, continued to believe it is safer in suburbia.
"I feel it's not a matter of if, but when the next hit comes," said Ed Covarik of Mahopac. "The city is always a target."
But in the city and outside of it, quick reaction teams are planning to make whatever happens a short event.