The NYPD can take down terror planes from the skies, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Sunday night.So they're not planning on taking them down w/ helicopters armed w/ .50 cals. They're talking Air Defense Artillery like the Stinger.
The city's top cop answered with a firm "Yes" when "60 Minutes" interviewer Scott Pelley asked if the New York City police had the equipment and training to do so.
"Do you mean to say that the NYPD has the means to take down an aircraft?" asked Pelley.
"Yes, I prefer not to get into the details, but obviously this would be in a very extreme situation," Kelly answered.
"You have the equipment and the training?" the CBS interviewer asked.
"Yes," Kelly said.
Unless they have teams prepped and ready 24/7 around the entire city, there's not a chance in hell of them taking down an aircraft that's heading towards a target. Assuming they did spend money on these systems, it's just another waste of tax-payer dollars for feel-good measures to make it look like they're doing something.
This is also another example of how the police are becoming militarized. Now they're going to have to justify the expense and maintenance of this idea. How long will it be before some prop-job Cessna or helicopter full of tourists gets declared a 'threat' and is shot down over the city?
*Man Portable Air Defense
3 comments:
I recall reading, in the last day or two, in one of the free papers, that they have a .50cal rifle on a mount on an NYPD helicopter.
-Stew
It's noted in the article I linked to as well. Again though, unless they're in the air 24/7, they won't do much good against a surprise attack and it has no chance against a jet.
Really???
They have 'the training'?
Wonder how they got ,THAT?
Or is that what *really* happened to TWA flight 800?
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