Page 3 - aruba-today-20240923

A3
up front Monday 23 SepteMber 2024
Secret Service's next challenge: Keeping scores of world leaders

safe at the U.N. General Assembly

Continued from Front command post in the “Brain
Center.”
The plan — developed with Down a basement hall from
New York City police and the the main hub of U.N. activity,
U.N. Security and Safety Serv- wall-to-wall monitors show
ice, among other agencies live feeds from dozens of
— includes not just motor- the 1,400 security cameras
cades and protective de- on the 18-acre (7.2-hectare)
tails, but NYPD helicopters headquarters campus. All
and patrol boats, a dozen are recorded and can be
U.N. security K-9 teams reviewed instantly. Auto-
sweeping for explosives, mated voices alert potential
road closures and traffic di- breaches and emergencies.
versions. The Secret Service Computers generate real-
is bringing in agents from time data and photos for
posts around the world for each of upwards of 22,000
the event. The Coast Guard people who pass through se-
is restricting East River access curity checkpoints per day.
near the U.N. and the Fed- Fire alarms tie directly into
eral Aviation Administration the city’s central dispatch
is closing airspace. system for immediate re-
With so many presidents, sponse.The command post
prime ministers, monarchs is staffed around the clock
and others dignitaries in one Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Freaney speaks at a news conference outside the by U.N. security officers who
city and under one roof at United Nations Headquarters, Friday Sept. 20, 2024. Associated Press work in 12-hour shifts while
the same time, the U.N. Gen- world leaders are in town.
eral Assembly is actually big- Freaney, the special agent eration. The Secret Service bringing 140 motorcades The goal, Inspector Malinda
ger than the Super Bowl. It’s in charge of the Secret Serv- is in charge, but the NYPD’s into one area all at the same McCormack said, is to re-
the most complex event the ice’s New York field office. robust counterterrorism and time. This plays an integral ceive, analyze and quickly
Secret Service is involved in The Associated Press got a other operations, and the part of bringing those details disseminate information.
each year. rare look inside security prep- U.N.’s 300-person Security in safely.” Security plans for UNGA
This year, it’s coming during a arations for the U.N. General and Safety Service, play The Secret Service, NYPD started to take shape a few
especially busy stretch high- Assembly, known as UNGA, pivotal roles. and State Department months ago. The Secret Serv-
lighted by the Republican including the “Brain Center” “We have over 140 heads of will also be operating their ice and its partner agencies
and Democratic conven- and a joint operations center state, heads of government own command centers — use past gatherings — this
tions and the final weeks of that lets the Secret Service, that we’re moving around in Brooklyn, at One Police is the 79th edition — as a
the presidential campaign. NYPD and other agencies the city,” Freaney said during Plaza in Manhattan and at blueprint, while making ad-
Speaking Monday after the communicate instantly to a tour of the joint operations a nearby hotel ballroom. justments for changing world
Secret Service thwarted an- root out threats and logisti- center, which has space for The NYPD, the nation’s larg- events such as the wars in
other apparent assassination cal snags. They’re also co- 10 local and federal agen- est police force, has its Joint Gaza and Ukraine.
attempt on Trump in Florida, ordinating with the foreign cies, including the FBI and Operations Center equipped “There’s an incredible trust,”
Acting Director Ronald L. security services that protect Federal Emergency Man- to give officers real-time said Michael Browne, chief of
Rowe Jr. said employees each of the dignitaries. agement Agency and the feeds from security, drone the U.N. Security and Safety
were “redlining” like an en- Freaney said the Nation- State and Defense depart- and helicopter-mounted Service. “There’s incredible
gine pushed to its limit. But, al Special Security Event ments. cameras, along with other sense of collegiality and col-
he said, “they are rising to designation — for special “One of the most important critical information. laboration, which I think is a
this moment” and meeting events of national signifi- things is bringing all of them The U.N. Security and Safety key ingredient for success in
the challenges. cance — smooths the way in here and then departing Service, which is in charge of a very complex and chal-
“The operational tempo is in- for interagency planning, safely,” Freaney said. “Think keeping the U.N. headquar- lenging operation such as
credibly high,” said Patrick communication and coop- about that logistically — ters campus secure, has its UNGA.”q

Trump says, if he loses, 2024 run will be

his last

By The Associated Press bid for the White House and lowing his disastrous debate
Former President Donald because he rarely admits performance and months of
Trump said on Sunday that the possibility he could le- being hammered by Trump
he doesn’t “think” he’d run gitimately lose an election. and other conservatives as
again for president in 2028 Trump normally insists that being too old and erratic for
if he falls short in his bid to could only happen if there the job.
return to the White House were widespread cheating, Attkisson interviewed Trump
in 2024. “No, I don’t. I think a false allegation he made in for her show “Full Measure.”
that will be, that will be it,” 2020 and he’s preemptively Also during the 22-minute Republican presidential nominee former President Donald
Trump said when journalist made again during his 2024 interview, Trump defended Trump dances after speaking at a campaign rally at Wilmington
Sharyl Attkisson asked him if presidential campaign. his record on the coronavi- International Airport, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Wilmington, N.C.
he’d run again. Trump would be 82 in 2028, a rus pandemic. He took credit Associated Press
The comment was nota- year older than President Joe for the development of the
ble both because Trump Biden is now. Biden bowed COVID-19 vaccines devel- while also saying “they’re do- and we’re going to find out”
seemed to rule out a fourth out of the race in July fol- oped during his presidency ing studies on the vaccines if they are safe. q