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NYC Marathon security: drones, barricades and bag checks on November 1
The NYPD's NYC Marathon security plan adds drones, more than 10,000 barricades and bag checks for November 1. What big event plans mean for guard companies.
The NYPD will post thousands of officers along the route of the 50th New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 1, backed by helicopters, drones, hundreds of blocker vehicles and more than 10,000 metal barricades, NY1 reported. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said there were no known specific or credible threats to the race.
Key points#
- About 60,000 runners and more than 2 million spectators are expected along the 26.2-mile course, ABC7 New York reported.
- The city's Joint Operations Center will be fully activated with city, state and federal partners, CBS New York reported.
- Bags may be inspected in viewing areas, and coolers, chairs, umbrellas, oversized bags and weapons are banned, CBS New York reported.
- The public may not fly drones, while police drones watch the race, ABC7 New York reported.
The security plan#
Officers will be posted from Staten Island through the Bronx to Central Park, joined by the bomb squad and the Emergency Service, Mounted, Canine, Harbor and Aviation units, ABC7 New York reported. Tisch said the public would see some of the measures and not others.
Staff will watch cameras along the route and social media for threats, and response units will be ready to check reports anywhere in the city, CBS New York reported. Tisch asked the public to stay alert: "If you see something, please say something."
The NYPD drone team will be active, and drone use by the public is prohibited, the station said.
Roads, bridges and timing#
Street closures begin early on race day, with rolling closures and delays near the route, and officials urged people to take mass transit, ABC7 New York reported. The upper level of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge closes at 11 p.m. on Saturday and the lower level at 7 a.m. on Sunday, the station said.
The race also falls on the morning after Halloween, which Rob Simmelkjaer, the chief executive of New York Road Runners, noted ahead of a busy weekend, NY1 reported.
What it means for your company#
A plan this size touches every client near the route, not only the race itself. The same steps help before any large event in a city where you have posts.
- Plan the trip to the post. Closed roads and bridges can make officers late, so build travel time into the schedule and confirm relief officers can reach the site.
- Match the event's rules. Add the day's banned items, bag checks and closed entrances to the post orders for any client site on or near the route.
- Write a drone rule. Tell officers to note the time and place of a drone they see near a client site and report it, and to leave any response to law enforcement.
- Know who to call. Get the client's event contact and the local law enforcement contact before the day, and keep incident reports short, timed and factual.
- Ask an expert where it matters. Drone and event rules can vary from place to place, so check yours with an attorney or your city.
Guardix lets managers write post orders for each post site, assign them to chosen officers and see who has acknowledged them.
Frequently asked questions#
How many police officers work the NYC Marathon?#
The NYPD said thousands of officers would be posted along the route, along with specialized units, ABC7 New York reported. The reports did not give an exact number.
Can spectators fly drones at the NYC Marathon?#
No. Drone use by the public is prohibited, and the NYPD drone team will be active during the race, CBS New York reported.
What items are banned in marathon viewing areas?#
Coolers, chairs, umbrellas, oversized bags and all weapons are banned, and bags are subject to inspection, CBS New York reported.
Sources#
- Events
- Drones
- New York