As we all know too well, New York City is a high-profile target for terrorist attacks. New York City thrives and defends itself against attacked through a partnership with NYPD Shields. Most notable attacks on the city are the 1993 and 2001 World Trade Center attacks as well as attempted bombings of the Federal Reserve and New York City Landmarks. There are also smaller-scale terrorist attacks such as the Halloween attack in 2017 that saw a man rent a pickup truck and kill 8 pedestrians.
This provides the private sector with information on emerging and evolving terrorist threats. SHIELD addresses the private sector on both an industry-specific (like transportation) and geographic basis (divided into 8 Patrol Boroughs) as well as provides training to assist in defending against terrorism. Information is transmitted directly to members by the following methods:
- Intelligence & Analysis Briefings
- Counterterrorism Training
- NYPD SHIELD Website Postings
- SHIELD Alert E-Mail Messages
- SHIELD Conferences
Partners are informed of upcoming events, new intelligence and threat information both in New York City and around the world.
Crucially, this partnership with NYPD Shield is not a one-way street. Private sector partners are the eyes and ears and serve a force multiplier in the fight against terrorism by reporting suspicious behavior as soon as possible. That is why it is crucial for trucking companies that drive through New York City daily, apply for membership. Drivers and other personnel know the roads, buildings, and neighborhoods they serve better than most. It is especially critical that leasing companies and parking operators sign up for SHIELD. This is similar to the excellent Truckers Against Trafficking program which helps fight the scourge of human trafficking. As the eyes and ears of our nation’s highways, truck drivers are in a unique position to make a difference and stop traffickers who seek to exploit our transportation system.
Information can always be passed to NYPD using the 24-hour hotline: 1-888-NYC-SAFE (1-888-692-7233).
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