Nassau County police implementing new strategy with more visible patrols
MINEOLA, N.Y. -- Nassau County is launching a suburban version of the NYPD's counterterrorism teams, deploying new roaming units of highly visible police officers.
Leaders tell CBS2's Jennifer McLogan that it will not result in higher overtime costs.
Religious leaders on Long Island voiced concern during Ramadan, and now, as Passover approaches, followed by Palm Sunday and Easter, there are worries that lone wolf terrorists are in our communities.
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"These threats are invisible. We can't predict them," one resident said.
"I would love to see the cops out here," another resident said.
"Starting today, we are dividing the county into four quadrants," Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said Friday.
Each day, Nassau County will deploy 20 uniformed officers in five squad cars, patrolling around high-profile locations, at or below the speed limit.
"We believe that this high visibility will deter crime," Blakeman said.
They will be spending an equal amount of time in all four quadrants, whether considered high or low crime.
"They will roam through these areas with their lights on, and it will act as a presence ... Constant and irregular patrol is how we offset what the bad guy is thinking," Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said.
"This is not a place where it's going to be opportune for you to commit a crime," Blakeman said. "To our residents and to our business visitors and our guests, this is a safe county."
On the heels of Nashville's tragic losses and attacks at several schools here, Nassau's new Overwatch program will be modeled after the NYPD's Hercules counterterrorism team, poised to quickly take down any active shooters.
"To have resources available at a moment's notice," Blakeman said.
"Anything more is better," one resident said.
"Maybe it would be a deterrent, people may think twice," another resident said.
"I like the police presence, maybe not so much because it gets a little crazy," another person said.
Meanwhile, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a likely challenger to former president Donald Trump in a 2024 presidential bid, arrives in the area Saturday, and protesters have planned rallies in Nassau County prior to and during DeSantis' speech at the Cradle of Aviation Museum.
"It's already been advertised all over the internet. They are coming here, and we'll handle it. We won't have a problem," Ryder said.
Allowing free speech and minimizing any risks to public safety.
DeSantis is on a book tour, trying to raise his profile on Long Island, where top Republicans have previously backed Trump. Several pro-Trump rallies are also planned for Saturday.
The new patrols were being tested Friday before they launch Saturday.
