NEW JERSEY : Some random citizens had their solution to fear and suspicion quickly comforted by calling the cops last month when they saw a couple of guys strolling around a New Jersey train station. They were snapping pictures at surveillance cameras that were installed. A ramped up shot of adrenaline rushed through the Port Authority police when they heard the alert by dispatch, so they dropped their snacks, flicked on the sirens, and turned on the red white and blues hightailing it to the scene during rush hour traffic.
When they arrived, the cops were taken by surprise to find out that the possible crime they had hurried to was just a drill. The two suspicious men were come to find out just members of Port Authority’s own security analysis team. A close call considering in the heat of the moment the guns could have been a blazing, luckily no one was killed.
Local reporters said the men were simply “testing the system.” The main difference in this test than the other drills that are practiced is that the local law enforcement officers including the supervisors had no idea that this was a test. The president of the Port Authority police union said that the results could have been fatal.
“It’s dangerous, what would this interview be right now if my guys hit somebody? What if some woman or a little child got killed?” said Paul Nunziato, president of the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association.
This is not the first time that these practice drills have put their officers and the public in harm’s way.
With the present-day alleged terrorist onslaught in Europe, the Port Authority have practiced a nine-minute active shooter drill at JFK airport. People in the terminals would have witnessed police rush in toting heavy weapons. A Port Authority spokesman stated that officials would have been notified in a timely manner, like the outside law enforcement agencies and tenants of the airport, and the airlines of the drill. But the officers would not have received advanced notice, he said.
Nunziato said “I don’t know what would possess anyone after the terrorist attacks in Belgium, would you scare the crap out of every person in that terminal with cops running in, lights and sirens, with heavy weapons, thinking something was going on.” he continued, “I certainly wouldn’t do that, that makes no sense.”
The Port Authority spokesman said that no one grumbled about being startled by the drill. He said that their policy is to alert the officers and the public when there is visible drill. An example, is a test with a fire on a runway. He stated that it is customary not to notify the officers about active shooter drills in the airport terminals.
The spokesman went on to say “The Port Authority regularly audits its security systems, equipment and protocols. This is especially important during times of heightened security concerns. Such assessments are designed to enhance the safety and security of our traveling public and employees. The March 15th review was conducted with that purpose. The Port Authority will continue to conduct such assessments.”
Anthony Roman, the head of Roman & Associates, a world-wide investigations and risk management firm, said the dangers of exercising surprise drills greatly outweigh the benefits. Roman says “This is the first time that I’ve heard that a police department has not provided a public notice both to their officers and to the civilian population regarding a terror drill.” He went on to say “This runs a real risk of blue on blue shootings, blue on blue injuries, and or collateral civilian casualties.”
Multiple local police departments agreed, including choosing expletive words to describe the drill in the train station in heated letters to Port Authority Executive Director Pat Foye: “By intentionally perpetrating a hoax terrorist surveillance of a target, the CSO personnel inexcusably placed themselves and the greater public at risk by their deliberate provocation of a police response,” wrote the executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations.
Nunziato also exclaimed that a drill on the same day as a terrorist attack in Brussels was absolutely sure to cause “undue alarm.” Looks like we have a little skirmish of miscommunication and or to many chiefs and not enough Indians. Maybe they can get it resolved and prevent anyone being killed.
By Andre’ Gabriel Esparza – DontComply.com
1 Comments
serenitynow
The president of the Port Authority police union said that the results could have been fatal.
“It’s dangerous, what would this interview be right now if my guys hit somebody? What if some woman or a little child got killed?” said Paul Nunziato, president of the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association.
The Port Authority police president frets that his officers may have killed somebody responding to a suspicious person case. This seems to indicate he has so little faith in the driving ability of his officers that he thinks that by them merely responding to a case — certainly not a high priority case, they may kill somebody. This is indicative of poor driving skills, certainly not any recklessness on the part of the police administration. His hand wringing is ridiculous.