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A2 u.s. news
Tuesday 31 december 2019
NYPD: Times Square safest place on Earth for New Year's Eve

By MICHAEL R. SISAK Shea said spectators should
Associated Press feel safe but encouraged
NEW YORK (AP) — New them to remain vigilant
York City's counterterrorism and alert an officer or call
czar expects Times Square a police hotline if they feel
to be "the safest place on something is amiss.
the planet Earth" on New "This is going to be one of
Year's Eve. the most well-policed, well-
Thousands of police officers protected celebrations in
will be on duty for Tuesday the entire world and we'll
night's festivities, along with have another safe and en-
specialized units armed joyable New Year's Eve,"
with long guns, bomb-sniff- Shea said.
ing dogs and other mea- Streets in and around Times
sures. Square will be closed to car
For the first time, police traffic hours before the ball
drones are expected to drops and police cars and
keep watch over the big, sand-filled sanitation trucks
confetti-filled celebra- will be positioned to stop
tion — a year late after vehicles from driving into
rain grounded the depart- the crowd.
ment's unmanned eye-in- Everyone showing up for
the-sky last year. the confetti-filled festivities
This year's forecast calls for should expect to be wan-
some clouds, but no rain Associated Press ded with metal detectors
and none of the bitter cold before being ushered to
that iced out spectators and Counterterrorism, lice "multiple chances to mot Shea said there are no one of 65 viewing pens set
two years ago. John Miller, said stack- catch something coming specific, credible threats up around Times Square to
The NYPD's Deputy Com- ing various security tools through." to the event, which brings prevent overcrowding.
missioner for Intelligence and techniques gives po- "Times Square is probably hundreds of thousands of Backpacks, chairs and
going to be the safest people to midtown Man- coolers are banned, as
To our clients and to our readers: place on the planet Earth hattan and attracts millions well as personal drones.
We are closed on January 1st and January 2nd, 2020. on New Year's Eve because of TV viewers. Post Malone, And don't think about pop-
We thank you for your business and your friendship nobody else puts that kind BTS and Alanis Morissette ping champagne or lifting
and wish a joyous holidays season and a Happy New of effort into an event like are scheduled to perform a Maddog 20/20 to ring in
Year From Aruba Today and the Caribbean Speed this," Miller said. on stages in the heart of 2020. The NYPD says alco-
Printing family Police Commissioner Der- Times Square. hol is strictly prohibited.q