Westchester Steps Up Anti-Terrorism Patrols With Randomized Sweeps
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- In the wake of the San Bernardino shootings last week, local law enforcement in Westchester County are stepping up their security.
Sixty-one different police departments are working together through a county-wide intelligence clearing center to increase randomized security sweeps, utilizing heavily-armed police officials to conduct procedures in heavily populated areas, like shopping centers and malls, WLNY TV 10/55's Lou Young reported.
"We plan these so we can be anywhere, any time, any place," Lt. James Luciano, of the Westchester County Police Department, said.
Officers, dressed in military-style uniforms, are equipped with high-tech devices, like radiation detectors that have the ability to detect a dirty bomb. Bomb-sniffing dogs are also often on-scene accompanying the officers.
"There's no, 'you're a village police force, you're a county police force, you're a state police force, you're federal --' you have to work together," Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino said. "Not only to keep our own people safe but to have that added ring of intelligence around New York City."
The program started just after 9/11 and has continued to grow, especially in the wake of incidents like the San Bernardino shootings and the recent terror attacks in Paris.
According to police sources, randomization of security sweeps is a priority -- with sweeps sometimes occurring in the same spot twice in one day.
"The whole idea behind this is to keep the bad guys off guard to keep them wondering," Capt. Paul A. Stasaitis said.
