NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — For the first time in a decade, the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks have returned to the Hudson River, and the NYPD has been preparing for a safe and secure celebration.
“If you look at the east side, we’re talking about two different roadways, you have the FDR, which is elevated, and then also the regular, you know, just the regular street level,” Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said at a security briefing at One Police Plaza on Wednesday afternoon, noting that operating on one straight-level road makes security logistics easier.
Maddrey said that all of the NYPD’s assets will be deployed for the event, including uniformed officers, some of which will be doing soft-screenings at entry points; the department's K-9 unit; counterterrorism officials; and additional measures that won’t be visible to celebrants.
“Rest assured the men and women of the NYPD will be out there and we fully anticipate another safe and successful celebration,” Maddrey said.
NYPD brass and Mayor Eric Adams confirmed that there are no specific nor credible threats to Thursday’s Independence Day festivities, though an FBI bulletin did mark the event an attractive target for a drone attack.
“This report didn’t mention a specific threat involving weaponized drones, but discussed this as a potential threat vector generally,” Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism Rebecca Weiner said, pointing to the “vibrant terrorism threat overseas,” at-home polarization and increase in hate crimes.
Despite the “complicated threat environment,” Weiner said that the department invests in drone attack mitigation.
Chief of Department John Chell said that there will be more officers deployed during the 2024 fireworks than ever before, but that the department’s real work begins in the aftermath of the show.
“Our night begins, pretty much, after the fireworks end about 9:30-10, and we will be deployed until the early morning hours of July 5,” Chell said. Police officers and assets will be redeployed to parts of the city that saw a high volume of fireworks call or shots fired calls in previous years.
The NYPD has added 13 zones that will see increased security around the city, including in the Bronx and northern Brooklyn.
In addition to the security being offered by law enforcement agencies, city officials reminded residents to take care of their own safety by not overburdening building roofs or fire escapes to get a view of the show, and to leave firework use to professionals.
“Fireworks may be fun, but you can have fatalities. Last year, over 9,700 injuries and eight deaths nationally from fireworks misuse or malfunction,” Adams said.
1010 WINS is the exclusive radio partner of the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks. Listen to the synchronized soundtrack for the fireworks on WINS on 92.3 FM or the Audacy app starting at 9 p.m.