Nassau County Police are training officers in an advanced rifles skills after purchasing new rifles for the department as part of preparations for an active shooter or act of terrorism should one occur in Nassau County.
Acting Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter and Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano announced the purchase of new rifles and training at the NCPD Firearms Training Facility in Hempstead.
“While we hope the day never comes, the Nassau County Police Department is continually training and preparing officers to combat active shooters and acts of terror,” Mangano said. “To enhance response capabilities, additional Nassau County Police Officers are being trained and outfitted with powerful rifles that are capable of hitting their targets from long range distances.”
The new rifles and training will be supplied to the Special Investigations Squad, the Criminal Investigative Rapid Response team, the Robbery squad and approximately 100 members of patrol throughout the County. Previously, only the Nassau County Police Department’s Bureau of Special Operations and Emergency Service Units were armed with rifles.
A press release from Nassau County officials said this is an “important initiative as patrol officers are often the first responders to the scene of a crime.”
“Sadly, we realize that acts of terror and active shooters are a reality,” Krumpter said. “Residents should rest assure that our Asset Forfeiture Intelligence Unit works around the clock to monitor any possible threats, our officers are continually training and we are providing them with the resources and technology needed.”
Nassau County Police have been increasing their training programs in the wake of the recent terror attacks in Paris and an assault at a Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs.
The new rifles and training program follow the county’s preparations of a public attack. Nassau Police also held Anti-Terror Drills at Nassau Community College and New York State Institute of Technology this past Sunday.
According to Newsday, Krumpter said the county considered purchasing longer range rifles 11 months ago after the department’s active shooter training revealed weapons that could cover longer distances were necessary. Delivery of the rifles was expedited following the Paris shooting.
Mangano said the anti-terror drills “were an evaluation of initial response, resource deployment, incident command/management, communication coordination, inter-agency coordination, intelligence integration, medical response and initial investigative actions.”
A $40,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was given to the Nassau County Police Department to pay for the exercise.
“The Nassau County Police Department prides itself on having some of the most well respected and professional law enforcement officers,” Krumpter said. “It is imperative that we continue to provide them with the tools and training they need to help keep Nassau one of the safest counties in the nation.”
