The State’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services today announced the next in the series of "Operation NY S.E.C.U.R.E." (Securing the Empire Corridor by Unifying Regional Efforts) rail exercises will take place today, from 5:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., August 28. DHSES’ Office of Counter Terrorism, State Police, MTA Police, Amtrak Police, and local police departments from Beacon, Village of Croton on the Hudson, Peekskill, City and Town of Poughkeepsie, Rensselaer, Tarrytown, and Yonkers, will be participating in this morning’s exercise.

Officers will perform counter terrorism and incident response exercises at passenger train stations and along the right-of-way in Amtrak's Empire Corridor and on Metro-North's Hudson Line. This coordinated effort involves activities such as heightened platform patrols, increased security presence onboard trains, explosives detection canine sweeps, and counter-surveillance measures. The goal of this operation is to improve coordination and response between the railroad police agencies that are responsible for each station, and the state and local law enforcement agencies that will be responding to emergencies at those locations. 

Operation NY Secure will take place at the following passenger train stations: 

• Yonkers
• Tarrytown
• Croton-Harmon
• Peekskill
• Poughkeepsie
• New Hamburg
• Beacon
• Rhinecliff
• Hudson
• Rensselaer

Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Roger Parrino, Sr. said, "Today's activities are another example of the frequent multi-agency exercises held throughout New York State. These exercises help promote increased cooperation between law enforcement agencies and improve first responders’ capabilities while responding to actual emergencies. I want to thank Amtrak, State Police, MTA, and all of our local law enforcement partners for their dedication and partnership to keeping New Yorkers safe."

State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II said, “Planning, coordination and training are all necessary to ensure local and state first responders are ready to work hand-in-hand to mitigate any type of emergency situation. Today’s exercises are invaluable to our continuous effort to protect transportation hubs and keep New Yorkers safe.”

MTA Chairman Joseph J. Lhota said, "Safety and security are our top priorities at the MTA, and we're proud of the work we're doing with our partners to remain ever vigilant against terrorist threats and enhance our ability to respond to all manner of emergencies." 

NYS Office of Counter Terrorism Director Staff Inspector Robert Willis said, "It is critically important for first responders at the local, state, and federal level to conduct joint exercises like these, which practice our ability to respond to an incident on our rail system.”

Amtrak Police Department Deputy Chief of Police Martin Conway said, "Safety is Amtrak's top priority - whether it is on a train, at a station, or on our right of way. We will continue to work with our partners to ensure the safety of our customers, employees and infrastructure. We look forward to collaborating with New York State Police, MTA, local police, and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services on this exercise, as well as on new initiatives in the future."

 About the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services provides leadership, coordination and support for efforts to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorism and other man-made and natural disasters, threats, fires and other emergencies. For more information, visit the Division's Facebook, follow @NYSDHSES on Twitter and Instagram, or visit dhses.ny.gov.

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