While the investigation continues into the Paris terrorism attacks,the New York City Police Department deployed a new counter terrorism unit for its first tour of duty on Monday.The officers of the new Critical Response Command stood at attention outside their post on Randall’s Island, housed in the same brick building that was once home to the NYPD’s notorious Street Crimes Unit, and shuttered by then-Commissioner Ray Kelly in 2002.
Officers in the new counter terrorism unit have received special training and new equipment to defend possible terrorism targets and,whether needed, to attack terrorists.“We start with the premise when dealing with these terrorists that it’s all about kill, and ” said NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton.
He said the NYPD is constantly drawing lessons from events around the world,citing this weekends tragic events in Paris and Mumbai in 2008, when gunmen killed more than 160 people in a series of coordinated attacks.whether terrorists prefer hostages, and Bratton said the NYPD’s obligation is to decrease the threat,“which means taking them out before they can kill others.”The city used to pull officers absent from precincts for counter terrorism tours. But after the Council successfully fought for more money to beef up the NYPD’s headcount, this stand-alone unit will top out at 560 officers and their superiors.
Source: wnyc.org