The NYPD hosted a training exercise Monday at Police Headquarters where officials from over 50 agencies, both public and private, underwent possible scenarios regarding Pope Francis’ visit to New York City. The mayor and police commissioner both took part in the “Multi-Agency Coordination Center Exercise” to talk about the specifics of the Pope’s security during his visit from Sept. 24 to Sept. 26.
The possible scenarios, prepared by the Department of Homeland Security, ranged from the from the mundane to the extreme, including two active shooters, one at a hospital and another at a train station, a power outage, and a building collapse.
At the training exercise security experts from the various agencies proposed and responded to a list of what ifs, setting crisis scenarios and planned responses. The planned training took place inside the NYPD’s high-tech Joint Operations Center, which will be open and activated throughout the Pope’s visit, as well as the United Nations General Assembly and the President’s visit, all taking place at the end of September.
The Pope’s visit has been designated a National Special Security Event with the U.S. Secret Service assuming a role as the lead federal agency for the design and implementation of the operational security plan.
The New York City Police Department, New York City Emergency Management, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as a number of other local, state and federal agencies, will play a critical operational role in securing these events.
