Posted on 03/16/2003 7:31:16 AM PST by areafiftyone
The Police Department has developed a plan to implement enhanced security measures if the United States goes to war with Iraq, according to published reports.
Under the plan, known as Operation Atlas, the department would increase the number of officers who patrol city streets and ask the Defense Department to fly combat aircraft overhead.
The patrols would step up security at sites considered particularly susceptible to terrorist attacks, including houses of worship, government buildings and hotels, The New York Times and the Daily News reported Sunday, citing unnamed police sources. Bridges, tunnels and other entrypoints into the city would also be heavily guarded under the plan.
Operation Atlas would involve groups of heavily armed Emergency Service Unit officers known as Hercules teams. Other specialized police and fire units that would be deployed include the Archangel and Hammer teams, which are trained to respond to terrorist attacks.
The plan calls for police officials to ask the Defense Department to use combat aircraft to patrol the skies over the city. The Federal Aviation Administration would also be asked to limit the airspace over Manhattan.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has reportedly been briefed on the plan, which police officials said would cost more than $5 million a week.
The Police Department's plan, following advice from terrorism experts, urges officers to be on guard against attacks by suicide bombers and to closely inspect subway cars and city-run ferries for explosives.
Officer George Jensen, a police spokesman, said he could not confirm the details of the operation.
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