NYPD invests $6.5M in technology to handle aerial threats
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the department is investing heavily in drone‑mitigation systems as global events bring heightened security concerns.
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With the FIFA World Cup headed to MetLife Stadium and the America 250 celebration set to draw massive crowds this summer, the NYPD is ramping up preparations for what officials describe as a new era of threats in the sky.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the department is investing heavily in drone‑mitigation technology as global events bring heightened security concerns.
“If there is one threat that keeps me up at night, it is from drones,” Tisch said.
The NYPD has spent $6.5 million on drone-mitigation systems and recently completed training with the FBI on how to deploy them. Officials say the technology is designed to detect, track and neutralize drones that could be used for criminal or terrorist activity.
Tisch said the evolving threat landscape requires law enforcement to adapt quickly.
“The threat picture has changed. The technology has changed, and our capabilities have to change with it,” she said.
Congress cleared the way for expanded local drone‑mitigation authority in December with the passage of the Safer Skies Act. Tisch called the legislation a major operational breakthrough for the department.
Federal and city officials emphasized that they intend to use every available tool to protect the public during the high‑profile events.
“If you plan to harm the people of New York, you will be caught,” U.S. attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York said. “You will be subject to the full extent of the law.”
