NYPD ramps up counterterrorism measures for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, officials say

The NYPD is ramping up its counterterrorism presence at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, following the gay nightclub shooting in Colorado and the recent arrests in New York City of two men over alleged threats to synagogues, a top police official said Wednesday.

At a news conference near Central Park close to where the parade balloons were to be inflated, Chief Martine Materasso, head of the NYPD counterterrorism effort, said the increased security will also be present around the city in the coming weeks.  Materasso stressed that there were no known credible threats to this parade, the 96th.

“Expect to see additional counterterrorism officers throughout the holiday season at venues that attract crowds, such as nightlife locations, holiday markets, religious institutions, shopping centers and the Rockefeller Center tree,” Materasso said.

Macy’s Chief Executive Officer Jeff Gennette said that because of the additional number of floats and participants, the parade will kick off at 8:45 a.m., instead of the usual 9 a.m., and end about three hours later at Herald Square.  Gennette said scores of floats and balloons, as well as a dozen marching bands, will participate.

Mayor Eric Adams, who was joined by NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell, said his favorite float character in the parade was Snoopy.

The NYPD and parade organizers are requesting that anyone lining the parade route not show up with large backpacks, chairs, umbrellas, drones, alcoholic beverages and e-cigarettes. Materasso said the NYPD will have drone interdiction technology in place to thwart any attempts to use them.

Sewell said thousands of cops will be on duty, although she wouldn’t give a specific number. 

Along the parade route, which will begin at Central Park West and West 77th Street,  sand-laden sanitation trucks will block key intersections.  The parade will head south to Central Park South, proceed east to Avenue of the Americas and end at 34th Street, in front of the flagship Macy's store.

As part of the security umbrella for the expected three million spectators, detection dogs will be deployed, as will heavy-weapons teams, the bomb squad and chemical and biological sensors, Materasso said. She said additional cameras have been installed along the parade route.

Retiring Chief of Department Kenneth Corey, the highest-ranking uniformed member of the NYPD, said this year’s parade will be the last one for him as a member of the department.

“This is actually my favorite event we do all year,” said Corey.  He recalled that as a youngster from Brooklyn coming to the parade, he never saw much.  But as part of the NYPD, Corey said he had better views.

“I couldn’t be prouder to be part of this and I am really looking forward to this,” Corey said.

By Anthony M. DeStefano

tony.destefano@newsday.comtonynewsday

Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.