Transcript: Mayor de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bratton Host Press Conference on Counterterrorism Following Brussels Terror Attacks

March 22, 2016

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Police Commissioner Bratton and I just toured the subway station – one of the busiest subway stations anywhere in this country. And we saw a lot of New Yorkers and a lot of visitors who are really appreciative of the clear, strong NYPD presence today. I talked to a number of the officers. They told me how many thank yous they’ve gotten today because people appreciate knowing they were there, they were vigilant, they are protecting us against any and all threats. And at this moment, it’s so good to see people going about their business, people in this city knowing the NYPD has their back. And understanding how important it is to never let the terrorists dominate us or influence us, but in fact, to stand up for our way of life.

So today, we saw just a piece of what is an extraordinary operation in this subway station – this vast connection point. All the tunnels, all the pieces of this station have half-a-million riders a day going through here – just an extraordinary hub of activity. And seeing how well protected it is and seeing the really elaborate and sophisticated operation the NYPD has in place to protect everyone is very, very encouraging. I want to thank all the good men and women of the new 55-member unit that has been put together to patrol the Times Square station. This unit, as with all our specialized units, is chosen and trained specifically for the job and I guarantee – I talked to some of the officers of just the sheer level of human activity they see every day. It takes special talent to be able to work productively in such an intense atmosphere, and we’ve found the best men and women for the job. Every New Yorker should know you’re being protected every day by the finest police force in this country, and a police force that has really developed extraordinary ability to prevent terrorism and to keep us safe.

I want to emphasize – because I know all New Yorkers want to hear the latest – and the latest is there remains no credible and specific threat against New York City. We are in constant communication with the FBI, and Homeland Security, and our state partners, and the Port Authority Police, all the key elements of our security apparatus. There remains, again, no credible and specific threat against New York City.

Within hours of the incident in Belgium this morning, the NYPD had fully deployed our key commands that we use in any emergency situation including our new Critical Command Response, which is a 500-plus member anti-terrorism force, specially trained, specially armed, and fully devoted to anti-terror activities, in addition to our Emergency Services Unit and our Strategic Response Group. All of these units were deployed, literally, between the time of the attack in Belgium and the beginning of the morning rush hour – a testament to Commissioner Bratton and the leadership of the NYPD that these actions were taken so quickly and so effectively.

It’s very important to remember, this city bore the brunt of the war on terror back in 2001, and since then there have been 20 plots directed against New York or originating in New York, and every single one of them has been foiled by the NYPD working closely with our federal and state partners. And we know that that history has to be built upon in an ever more complex dynamic. There are new and more difficult terror threats that we face, so in addition to creating the Critical Response Command, we’re giving new technology to our officers – all 36,000 officers have technology upgrades that will help them be a key part of our efforts to prevent terror. And by the end of this year, we’ll have 2,000 additional officers on patrol in this city helping us to continue to be the safest big city in America.

Our hearts are with the people of Belgium today, our prayers are with the families that have been so horribly affected by these tragedies. We stand in solidarity with Prime Minister Charles Michel, with the Mayor of Brussels Yvan Mayeur, and the Belgian people in their hour of need. We know what it feels like and our thoughts and prayers are with them and with people in so many other nations who have suffered from terror recently – Turkey, the Ivory Coast, Yemen, and Nigeria. The community of nations has to stand up to terror and all its forms. One of the best ways we do that is by reiterating our commitment to democracy; to values of free speech and openness; to showing the terrorists they can’t intimidate us; they won’t change our way of life; they won’t make us different. We will stand up to them, and we will stand by our values, so it’s so important for people to go about their daily routines knowing the NYPD is protecting you; knowing that just going about your daily business is a renunciation of terrorism and the efforts of terrorists to intimidate us. Let’s show our strength by refusing to give in – by continuing to be a democratic, and free, and tolerant society.

I’m going to turn to Commissioner Bratton, but before I do I want to remind all New Yorkers – especially at a moment like this, the phrase “If You See Something, Say Something”, it means a lot, and you're supposed to take it literally. If you see anything that you think is suspicious or dangerous – if you see a package unattended, if you see someone acting in a manner you regard as troubling – inform a police officer right away or call 9-1-1, always better to be safe than sorry. That phrase can save lives. Remember, it was right here in Times Square that a vendor a few years ago saw something a few years ago and alerted a police officer and saved the lives of countless New Yorkers. It’s so important to speak up and you can help the NYPD in the fight against terror. We will keep you updated throughout the coming days, but rest assured one thing will be constant, the vigilance and the ability of the NYPD.

Just a few words in Spanish before I turn to Commissioner Bratton.

[Mayor de Blasio speaks in Spanish]

With that, a man that leads with such great ability the finest police force in this nation and in this world, Commissioner Bill Bratton.

Police Commissioner Bill Bratton: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Good afternoon. Quickly – echoing the Mayor’s comment that we do not have at this time any credible threat directed against New York City. However, with an abundance of caution, with the resources that we have in abundance in New York City, our police force – over the next several days, the public will notice a significant increase in police presence on the transit systems, transit hubs of the city, specifically our CRC, SRG entities supplementing our Transit Police Bureau. 

Additionally, we will be providing extra coverage to Belgian and French interests here in the city, once again, with our CRC, SRG units. Echoing once more, again, the Mayor’s comments – if you see something, say something. While traveling in the subway system this afternoon, I was very pleased to hear on the subway cars the constant messaging about that issue – see something, say something, and record it. I had the opportunity to spend some time in the subway system this afternoon. People are in good spirits, they're happy they see the police. And echoing once again the Mayor’s comments – say hello to those cops. Tell them you’re grateful, you’re thankful that they’re there. Give them a high five. Give them an attaboy. They’ll like to hear from you. I was pleased to get a lot of acknowledgement during my time riding the system this afternoon, and I know how good it felt for me to have people feeling comfortable riding the system.

John Miller, our Deputy Commissioner for Terrorism – Counterterrorism and Intelligence will give you a quick update of the incidents that we are constantly monitoring overseas that are shaping our response here in New York City.

With that – John?

Deputy Commissioner John Miller, Intelligence and Counterterrorism, NYPD: Thank you, Commissioner. What you saw this morning and throughout the day, if you are a terrorist, was a massive show of force on the part of the NYPD. What you saw if you are a citizen or a commuter today was a large sign of reassurance and protection. Starting early this morning, we used every tool in the counterterrorism toolbox, whether that was our special weapons teams from throughout the department, beyond the Counterterrorism Bureau, or our explosive detection K-9s, including the highly trained vapor wake dogs, which can pick up the scent of a bomb even if it’s moving through a crowd in a crowded area. Our radiation detection entities that are throughout the subway and mass transit system, as well as the streets, or our network of thousands of cameras – all of that was brought to bear very quickly this morning. That plan was honed and refined throughout the day. You'll see that again, and signs of that, in this evening’s rush hour. 

We've been in constant touch with our overseas partners, with our detectives who are in their foreign posts – in their liaison posts, who have been reporting back to us throughout the day. And because there are Americans among the casualties and U.S. persons in the attack in Belgium – there will be an FBI investigation coming out of the New York City Joint Terrorism Task Force. So, we expect agents and New York City detectives who are task force officers to be gearing up to leave for that investigation overseas as early as tonight or tomorrow. 

Mayor: Okay, any questions?

Question: Commissioner Bratton, why is [inaudible] so effective? What is it about?

Commissioner Bratton: It’s about confidence – the idea that the public can feel confident in this city that we will do everything to try to deter and prevent an act from occurring. God forbid if one were to occur, the capabilities to respond very quickly are there also. But it is the idea that we’re fortunate – the Mayor has been very supportive of strengthening this department over these last two years – those 2,000 additional cops that allow me not only to create the CRC, SRG but coincidentally today – having no relationship at all to the events in Belgium – that a new unit began patrolling the subways downstairs; 55 officers who will work full-time in this complex of stations to deal with the three to four hundred thousand people a day who go through the subway. We have, as you know, earlier this year, put a 120-person unit in Times Square for the half-a-million people a day who go through this square most days with no crime occurring. So, we’re fortunate that we have political leadership that is beefing up the department and we’re making great use of those resources, so we can calm the public if they are concerned.

Question: [Inaudible] hit the ground running so quickly –

Commissioner Bratton: A lot of practice, a lot of training, a lot of drills. And I might echo – the mayor and I have both been testifying before Congress recently. There’s an effort by the administration to reduce, ironically, at this time the funding that comes to this city that pays for the drills that we do; that pays for a lot of the equipment; that pays for so much of our intelligence service. So, the events in Europe today are a reminder to this administration, this is not the time, in the face of one of the most significant threats since 9/11 to be cutting back on the capabilities of any American police force.

Question: Commissioner how does [inaudible] New Yorkers [inaudible] cellphone capability, underground Wi-Fi – how does that fit into [inaudible]?

Commissioner Bratton: Let me ask Mr. Miller to speak to that, even the mayor – because we’re very supportive of the Wi-Fi kiosks that will be sprouting up all over the city that will help with communications purposes. So, anything that allows the public to get information more quickly, give us information more quickly, we’re certainly supportive of. The idea that if I have phone connectivity in the subway, while I’m travelling, that’s a great benefit to me as police commissioner, the idea that just the last two weeks we have begun to give interoperability capability to our transit officers and our street officers, so if they go up and down, in and out of the subways, they don’t lose communication. So, anything that improves communication capabilities between the public and us, and certainly within the police framework, I think Mr. Mayor you clearly are supportive of that – and those efforts of those Wi-Fi kiosks that’ll be all over the city in furtherance of that.

Question: [Inaudible]

Mayor: Hold on one second. John Miller, you want to add?

Deputy Commissioner Miller: Sure. I think everything you’re talking about – the cellular capability, Wi-Fi capability, the kiosks you’re seeing in the street – actually increases communications. One of the things that we see, whether it was the terrible day of 9/11, which we all experienced with a crash of cellular communications, hard-wire telephonic communications – what we saw again today in Belgium is everybody moved to their communications devices and overwhelmed the system – is building out a more robust infrastructure so that people underground, people above-ground have the Wi-Fi capability, the cellular capability, and access to those kiosks where they can make free calls, free long distance, ascertain information, communicate with family. And it fits, as the Mayor reminded us, into the “If You See Something, Say Something” the 1-800-NYC-SAFE number, NYC Safe. So, broader communications is good on any day, broader communications is an essential tool in crisis.

Mayor: Hold on, come on. We got to share here.

Question: [Inaudible]

Commissioner Bratton: I’m sorry –

Question: [Inaudible]

Commissioner Bratton: Let me ask, Mr. Miller to respond to you on that. Sorry, the helicopter overhead is drowning you out a little bit.

Deputy Commissioner Miller: What was the question?

Question: The Hercules Team – how did the Hercules Team come into play –

Deputy Commissioner Miller: So, the Hercules Team is highly effective. It’s composed of the elite members of our Emergency Services Unit. I think everybody in New York City knows about ESU. Not only that, it’s got a highway component too. So, get anywhere safely, effectively, and end the threat immediately.

Question: [Inaudible]

Commissioner Bratton: A lot – the Domain Awareness System – the radiation detection devices all over the city; the license plate scanners so that you cannot come into the city without having your license plate scanned; the capability to screen every ship coming into the harbor on the Verrazano Bridge; the cameras that are all over – those are all funded by $50 million of federal funds every year. So, the impact on that Domain Awareness System would be immense. Every one of the intelligence analysts that Commissioner Miller, Chief Waters, Chief Galati have in their various centers are paid for with federal dollars. A lot of the equipment you see our officers wearing, the vehicles that a number of them are riding around in – funded with federal dollars. Why? As the mayor indicated, we are the number terrorist target in this country, and potentially in the world. So, there is a shared responsibility that the federal government has maintained since 9/11. And again, why this administration at this time, whoever thought it up – it just doesn’t make any sense, particularly in light of what happened in Belgium today.

Question: [Inaudible]

Commissioner Bratton: [Inaudible] the Mayor and I both speak to this.

Mayor: Yes, we both want to speak to this one. I just have to say it’s reprehensible. His comments are not about safety and security, its demagoguery. We have 900 Muslim-American officers in the NYPD. We have peace-loving, law-abiding Muslim-Americans in neighborhoods all over New York City. They should be respected like all other members of our community. So, the question is, if any individual might commit a crime, if any individual might commit an act of terror, we’re going to be all over them. And again, the NYPD has extraordinary ability to deal with any threat or any lead. But to paint an entire community with that brush is absolutely counterproductive. By the way, it’s immoral, it does not conform with American values, but it’s also counterproductive. It’s a great way to alienate thousands and thousands of people and make them feel like they don’t belong in this country, and that’s not good for anyone.

Commissioner Bratton: I would remind the Senator he lives in the United States of America. And the statements he made today is why he’s not going to become president of this country.

Mayor: Amen.

Commissioner Bratton: Because we don’t need a president that doesn’t respect that values that [inaudible] the foundation of this country. As the mayor mentioned, I have over 900 very dedicated officers in this department, many of whom do double-duty. They serve as active-duty members of the U. S. military in combat, something the Senator has never seen. So, before he starts denigrating any population group, take a close look at who he’s denigrating. I take great offense at his characterization of that whole population, particularly with my intimacy with the population in my organization of Muslim officers who are willing to sacrifice their lives in foreign countries and everyday step up willing to sacrifice their lives here. So, the Senator basically, he’s really out of line with his comments.

Mayor: Amen.

Unknown: Thank you Commissioner. Thank you Mayor.

Mayor: Thank you.