New York’s Finest will be pulling extra duty this summer as the Big Apple is swarmed with tourists for America 250, July 4, the World Cup tournament and a slew of high-profile — and high-security — events.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said a majority of the rank and file will be called on to work 12-hour shifts over the first week of July, with additional dates expected to handle the influx of visitors, according to a letter to the department from the top cop.
“We are preparing for a series of major and overlapping events – the World Cup, the NBA Finals, Sail 250 and, of course, July 4th,” Tisch wrote. “Each of these will bring large crowds, complex operations, and significant demands on this department. All of this is happening in a heightened threat environment.
“I know what all of this asks of you, and I do not take it lightly,” she said. “Time and again, you have shown what this department is capable of when the stakes are high. You meet the moment with professionalism, with resilience, and with a clear understanding of what this city expects from you.”
Tisch said the number of events over the summer presents cops with “unprecedented demands.”
The Big Apple has been bracing for the expected invasion of tourists in the coming months, with traditional July 4 celebrations intensifying with the nation’s 250th anniversary and the arrival of the World Cup soccer tournament in the New York Metropolitan Area.
Last month, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a self-professed soccer nut, signed an emergency order to ban nearly all major events like concerts and food festivals from city parks during the FIFA World Cup, which runs from June 11 through July 19.
One casualty of the order is a planned New Year’s Eve-like ball drop in Times Square to mark America’s birthday, which was denied a permit but has caused confusion because organizers say it’s still on.
Also on tap for the celebration is Sail4th 250, a six-day, once-in-a-lifetime event that will include more than 30 tall ships entering New York Harbor, along with a Blue Angels jet flight display.
City Hall has even pushed for a ban on kayaks and rowboats near Manhattan island, and sources said a request by Macy’s to expand its traditional July 4th fireworks display was shot down.
In addition, next month will see the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton host the US Open.
All told, the summer events are expected to generate a record-breaking $2.85 billion revenue windfall for the Big Apple — but create a policing nightmare for the NYPD in the process, hence the all-hands directive.
“As always, I am grateful for everything you do – for the work, the sacrifices, and the way you do the job,” Tisch wrote to the department. “Stay safe, look out for one another, and keep up the great work.”
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