NY1
Updated 12:38 PM
Multi-Agency Training Exercise Held At Transit Hubs
By: Vivian Lee
Commuter hubs in Manhattan were packed with a heavy police presence this morning, as part of a multi-agency training exercise.
Approximately 100 New York City Police Department officers joined members of the Amtrak, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Port Authority and New Jersey Transit Police forces, as well as members of the National Guard and the Transportation Security Administration for the drill.
The exercise took place at Penn Station, Grand Central Terminal and Herald Square.
The aim was to coordinate a highly-visible police presence in transit hubs.
“We're coordinating all of our efforts, using baggage teams, canine teams, plainclothes in counter surveillance,” explained NYPD Inspector Martin Conway.
The officers say it’s a good way to get to know the other agencies they may be working with.
"Working together it develops a real working relationship with the other agencies so that God forbid there was another attack, we would have that working relationship already in effect; we wouldn't be getting to know each other at an event,” said Conway.
Officials say the drill was scheduled prior to the Moscow and Dagestan subway bombings. But commuters say in light of the recent incident, they feel more comfortable having the increased police presence.
"It may happen here, right?" said one traveler.
"It actually calms me down because I know they're here," said another. "It's more safe when they're here. It's more commotion when they're not."
This was the second training exercise this month and the 42nd of this kind since 2008.
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