Security Raised In Subways, Synagogues

The vigorous security measures instituted in response to the recent bombing in Madrid and the assassination of Sheik Ahmad Yassin, spiritual leader of the Palestinian terrorist group, Hamas, have localized in Queens.
NYPD has begun an aggressive patrolling initiative on subways and commuter lines, while also stepping up its presence at synagogues, mosques and Jewish cemeteries throughout Queens.
The tactical initiatives include visitations to subways and commuter lines by uniformed police and canine units. Supervisory personnel also have been equipped with portable radiation detectors. The patrol sweeps will stretch across Queens, with the concentration of activity taking place in the northern and western parts of the borough, where underground lines are predominant. All lines that run near bridges or under tunnels are considered the highest priority.
Random Sweeps
Police sources at One Police Plaza and Patrol Borough Queens North told The Queens Courier that six to eight officers are performing random sweeps of subway stations, boarding the trains and canvassing every car for suspicious activity or radiological evidence of explosive materials. Most sweeps last about one hour. To ensure their effectiveness, subway and LIRR sweeps are occurring on a totally random basis, in order to maintain the element of surprise.
Paul J. Browne, the deputy police commissioner for public information, said that railway patrons should expect to see the increased presence of police boarding all cars of a train at once and checking for anything even remotely suspicious.
Likewise, transit agencies have bolstered the security of their rail cars since the attack in Spain.
Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) spokesman Tom Kelly told The Queens Courier that his agency has also stepped up its patrols on the LIRR and subway stations. Though some of the security enhancements could not be divulged, Kelly said a difference is visibly noticeable."We have increased our uniform patrol officers and K-9 units," he said.
A day after the train bombings in Spain, the Port Authority (PA), in a released statement, reiterated the security precautions it has taken at its facilities since the World Trade Center disaster. The statement noted the unprecedented number of officers the PA now deploys on a daily basis. Since September 11, 2001, the agency has augmented its police force by more than 500 patrolmen.
"This is a force level never seen before in the history of the Port Authority Police Department," read the PAs statement. "In addition, as part of the agencys heightened alert status, Port Authority police are deployed as events and circumstances warrant. The Port Authority has enhanced its police presence throughout the PATH system, the Port Authority Bus Terminal and its other facilities."
Synagogues Also Patrolled
The boroughs police force has also increased its patrols of Jewish synagogues and other religious locations in light of the assassination of Sheik Yassin and the upcoming Passover celebration. Patrol Borough Queens Norths commanding officer, Chief James Tuller, met with Jewish leaders from around the borough on Tuesday afternoon to outline security measures under way.
As part of the safeguards, all precincts in Queens will be assigning specific personnel to blanket the religious communities as the high holy days approach.
Since the borough contains one of the largest combined concentrations of followers of Judaism and Islam, concerns over the safety of those particular groups have led to an intensified police presence. House of worship auto patrol cars have been assigned to repeatedly visit temples, synagogues, mosques and other religious meeting places. Officers and supervisory personnel will be in place to keep constant communications with any groups considered susceptible to a terrorist climate. Additionally, community affairs officers and field supervisors will visit the same locations to supplement regular patrols.
Community Affairs Officer Kenneth Zorn of the 106th Precinct in Richmond Hill told The Queens Courier that this initiative has been integrated into regular duty operations since the September 11th attacks. However, he said, NYPDs efforts have been extremely heightened following the railway bombings in Madrid.
"With regard to the measures being taken to protect synagogues, mosques and Jewish cemeteries across Queens," Zorn explained,"we are stepping up an already extensive patrol program."
He added that the safety of both Jewish and Muslim groups, and their houses of worship carry equal weight.
"Because of the rampant terrorist activity in Spain and the Middle East, we are treating the Jewish community as well as the Islamic community with equal priority in these patrols," Zorn said. "We never know which way the stone will be thrown, so the intensive monitoring of both these groups to provide maximum protection is essential."
At the Patrol Borough Queens North meeting, Jewish leaders were given tips on how to keep their buildings safe. Officers suggested that they only use one entrance to synagogues and other Jewish centers. They also advised rabbis to have a person at the entrance who knows the synagogues congregants. Police also offered free evaluations and recommendations of each synagogues security system.
Jewish community leaders said their vigilance has been heightened somewhat for fear of reprisals for the Hamas leaders assassination, but stated they have lived with the threat of terrorism since the wave of suicide bombings in Israel began more than three years ago.
"We have been living with this for a long time," said Manny Behar, executive director of the Queens Jewish Community Council. "The terrorists are doing what they are doing because they hate Jews and hate Israel. Its not because of what has happened to one man. We are always on alert, maybe now a little more."
Behar said the Jewish community did feel safer with New Yorks Finest on the job.
"It is always encouraging to know that the worlds greatest police department is on our side and doing what needs to be done," he said.