2023 was a busy year for the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services’ Office of Counter Terrorism. They conducted training exercises at more than 1,100 locations statewide last year.
Counter-terrorism experts from over 80 federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies completed exercises assessing the ability of businesses to recognize and report suspicious activity in nearly every county in the state. More than 6,300 exercises have been conducted across New York since 2016. Law enforcement teams and Office of Counter Terrorism staff also completed nearly 89 NY-SECURE rail counter-terrorism details in 2023 to remind travelers of the importance of ‘See Something, Say Something.’
“Public safety is my top priority, and these exercises help educate the employees at businesses and the public across the state on how to spot suspicious activity and report it to law enforcement,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “I thank law enforcement and homeland security personnel for their continued support of these important programs that safeguard the public.”
Law enforcement teams across the state conducted exercises involving over 400 law enforcement personnel in each of the state’s 16 counter terrorism zones. As part of this process, teams assessed suspicious activity reporting and recognition at 860 retailers and businesses that sell chemicals, compounds, components, services, or rent space or resources that could be exploited by those with nefarious intent. Additionally, teams assessed more than 200 infrastructure locations across the state. These included locations such as stadiums and arenas, malls and shopping centers, colleges and universities, airports, transit hubs and other mass-gathering locations. Approximately 40 percent of the locations tested in 2023 were new and not tested in previous years. The partnership between state counter-terrorism analysts and law enforcement helped identify these new locations for testing.
Engagement with these stakeholders has increased public vigilance and suspicious activity reporting. Since the state-coordinated effort was launched in 2016, suspicious activity reporting to the NYS Terrorism Tips Line during these exercises has increased 30 percent, demonstrating effective outreach and training.
