By Nick Buglione
Following the four terrorist bombings on London subway trains and a bus that killed more than 50 and injured 700, Nassau County police are intensifying patrols at all Long Island Rail Road stations, where uniformed officers will "park, walk and talk."
"This means that the officer will park his or her car, walk through train platforms, ticket offices, waiting rooms and inspect for suspicious persons, packages and vehicles," said Tim Driscoll, deputy county executive of public safety.
The police department's Bureau of Special Operations will also conduct high-visibility patrols of railway facilities and trains, Driscoll said, while the aviation unit will conduct fly-overs of railroad lines and facilities.
"We've intensified patrol of all the railroad stations in the precinct - Gibson, Valley Stream, Lakeview, West Hempstead," said police officer Stan Slevinski, crime analyst for the Fifth Precinct, which covers Valley Stream. "We will continue the stepped-up patrols as long as the alert level remains at orange."
As Nassau County residents make their way to work in New York City, they can rest assured that similar safety measures are being taken there, said Jarrod Bernstein, a spokesman for the New York City Office of Emergency Management.
More officers have been assigned to subway and bridge duty, Bernstein said. What's more, city agencies are prepared to handle bombings similar to the ones that rocked London last Thursday, he said. "We did a multi-agency drill in 2004 that consisted of a terrorist attack in the subway," Bernstein said. It was organized after the bombing of the train in Madrid that took hundreds of lives.
In addition, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has brought in additional police officers to step up security in the entire New York City system, according to MTA spokesperson Mercedes Padilla.
Though a high alert was issued only for mass transit systems, area hospitals are on guard as well. "We remain vigilant, and we have instituted, as we have in the past, additional security measures," said Shelley Lotenberg, spokeswoman for Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow. "We're on alert."
The Village of Valley Stream is also on alert. "I think everybody has been on alert all along," said Vinny Ang, village clerk. "We're observant of the municipal buildings and municipal parks. We keep alert to the fact that something might be out of place."
Mayor Edward Cahill noted that residents can tune into village's radio station in case of emergency at WPXX 1620 AM. He said village officials have also asked auxiliary police, code enforcement and public safety officers to be on guard.
Commuters can play a big role in preventing terrorist attacks on mass transit systems, said Dr. Joseph Ryan, a chairman of the Pace University Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology. A 25-year veteran of the New York City Police Department, Ryan is an expert on homeland security, and was a security consultant for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
Ryan said that commuters should be on the lookout for anything suspicious on subways and buses. If something or someone doesn't look right, they should notify police or mass transit officials, he said. "Don't just let something happen - be proactive," he said.
Sam Zambuto, a spokesman for the Long Island Rail Road, said customers should be on heightened alert, and should be "more aware of their circumstances when traveling."
Announcements similar to those that ran after the Sept. 11 attacks, reminding commuters to pay close attention to their own baggage and to look out for and report suspicious baggage and behavior, have been running here since last week's London attacks. The announcements include the phrase, "If you see something, say something."
In the wake of Sept. 11, Ryan believes that New York City is far less vulnerable to terrorism. Michael Canino, the chairman of the United Transportation Union, which represents LIRR conductors, agrees with Ryan. "There's a huge police presence in the city right now," Canino said. "Penn Station is probably the safest place on earth."
Canino also said that train conductors have been anxious since the attacks of 9/11, but that security measures have greatly improved since then - and since the London attacks. He was quick to point out that the conductors are trained how to react in dangerous situations. "They're trained on what to recognize as out of the ordinary," he said. "We went through this last year during the Republican National Convention on suspicious packages, and the police came down and spoke with the guys."
Despite the inherent dangers involved in operating what is essentially a moving target, Canino said that the conductors are committed to doing their job, no matter what. "It's something that has to be done," he said. "We can't give in to terrorists, just like the police and fire departments can't. It's up to us to move the people, and to keep things moving."
Still, commuters shouldn't let that interfere with their everyday lives, Ryan said. "Don't give up," he said. "You still have to ride the subways. If you give up, then you're giving in to the terrorists."
Valley Stream residents who ride the rails had varying degrees of reaction to the attacks. "It's scary, but you've got to do it and go on," said Ferida Mohammed.
"It all depends on your situation," said T.J. James. "It's not safe, but it's the only way to get out of Long Island."
For some residents, it was business as usual at the Valley Stream train station last Friday morning. "It doesn't scare me at all - I was in the military," said Ed Schuessler. "It's not going to stop me from doing my daily routine."
Although no group has officially been blamed for the London bombings, the Islamic Center of Long Island has condemned the terrorist attacks, stating, "This violent and reprehensible act violates the Islamic principles of the sanctity of life and the safety and security of innocent civilians."
Mike Schnitzel, Esther McKenna, Marley Seaman, Nicole Falco and Chris Munzing contributed to this story. Comments about it? NBuglione@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
