Ginger Adams Otis , Tina Moore New York Daily News
It’s a big job, but the NYPD has it covered.
“This is one the larger operations we’ve ever engaged in,” Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said Thursday on NY1 in the hours leading up to the late afternoon arrival of Pope Francis in the Big Apple.
Barricades Photo New York Daily News
“The public’s going to have a great time and have access to the Pope at the same time.”
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Making the rounds on television news shows, Bratton said providing security for the Pope and all the world leaders who will be in town for the U.N. General Assembly was a big job but that the NYPD had it covered.
“Double the pleasure, double the fun,” the top cop quipped.
On CNN, Bratton said that there was “no known threat” to Pope Francis and that cops were working in 12-hour shifts. He said there would be “a lot of overtime” and that at least 7,000 cops would be on duty Friday.
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His “worst nightmare” would be all the convoys of all the world leaders converging at one at one intersection, he said.
The NYPD is working with 48 agencies, Bratton said. There are 1,773 police cars deployed, 37 miles of fence and mesh erected — and selfie sticks are banned from events. Security is so tight there will be no postal service in some areas.
“We’re in very good shape,” Bratton said. “We can do it all.”
