There will be more police — and drones — patrolling the 99th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving day Parade, NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch said Wednesday.
Standing in front of a Macy’s balloon along West 81st St. and Columbus Ave. on the Upper West Side, Tish and Mayor Adams declared at a news conference there were no known credible threats to the world famous parade, and that thousands of NYPD officers will be posted along the parade route.
“We can tell you that at this time, there are no known specific credible threats to the parade but as always New Yorkers will see an increase police presence with thousands of NYPD officers posted along the two-and-a-half mile parade route and the surrounding routes,” Tisch said.
Multiple NYPD units — including its Emergency Service unit along with its canine, aviation, bomb squad, and harbor details — will be boosting patrol coverage, authorities said, adding that NYPD intelligence teams were also monitoring social media for any potential threats.
“Our helicopters and our drones will be deployed to enhance our patrol coverage on the ground and there will be hundreds of NYPD and DSNY blocker vehicles strategically positioned along the route,” Tisch said.
Tisch also said the department plans to deploy a team that will address potential protestors. In 2024, Pro-Palestinian protesters briefly disrupted and blocked the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, leading to 25 arrests, police said.
At that time, activists poured onto the parade route on Sixth Ave. at W. 55th St., blocking a Ronald McDonald float about an hour after the beloved parade kicked off. The demonstrators halted the procession path for several minutes.
“This season time is not only fun to exchange gifts but it also plays a major role of the economic stability of this city,” Mayor Adams said. “Tomorrow the weather is going to be mild, we are going to monitor the situation with the balloons if it reaches a level that we cannot have them up, we will communicate with the Macy’s organizers to give them proper information.”
The parade will kick off around 8:30 a.m. and follow a route starting from the corner of West 77th St. and Central Park West and ending at 34th St. in front of Macy’s Herald Square.
Tisch said prohibited items at the parade will include \coolers, oversized bags, chairs, drones, umbrellas, strollers, bicycles, pets and any large items that obstruct the view.
The heightened security comes as the NYPD announced the Washington, D.C., shooting of two National Guard soldiers a few blocks away from the White House had no known connection with New York City.
“At this time, we know that at least two national guard members were shot in what appears to be a targeted attack on law enforcement, we are keeping the guards members and their families in our thoughts and prayers,” Tisch said. “We are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with our law enforcement partners in D.C.”
Source link
