NYPD Learns From Mumbai

BY Patrice O’Shaughnessy, NY DAILY NEWS

Cops with helmets, heavy vests and assault rifles approached the building where hostages were being held. One barked orders as cops bounded across the street with military precision to cover each other at cross-angles.

They entered the building, secured it and located the hostages in the dark maze of rooms on the second floor. The captives were directed at each turn by cops who pointed and yelled, “Go this way. Keep your hands on your head! Go down the stairs!”

The tension eased when one cop added, “Dear” to the end of his “C’mon! Move it!”

The “hostages” – including a Daily News reporter – were safely escorted out of the building, and the team was told to stand down until the next scenario.

For the past two weeks, NYPD officers and detectives have been carrying out dozens of these tactical drills daily, practicing with Ruger Mini 14 assault rifles as they train to deal with a Mumbai-style attack on the city.

In November, 10 terrorists armed with automatic weapons and grenades killed at least 170 people and injured hundreds in a three-day siege in “the New York of India.”

The group hit hotels and train stations and other high-profile buildings around the city with deadly precision.

“The Mumbai incident was a departure; we hadn’t seen that type of attack,” said Assistant Chief George Anderson, commanding officer of the Police Academy.

The trainees will be part of the Critical Incident Response Capacity (CIRC), to supplement the NYPD Emergency Service Unit, whose members are experts in heavy weapons and close-quarters combat.

The Mumbai seige taught cops that ESU wouldn’t be enough for multiple, simultaneous attacks.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly ordered the new training because in the Mumbai incident, casualties mounted as local police were outgunned and unable to engage the terrorists. It took more than 12 hours for Indian commandos to arrive.

ESU Lt. Kenneth Beatty said the CIRC trainees – veterans from the Organized Crime Control Bureau – were doing movement drills: clearing hallways, learning to get hostages out quickly and learning how to spot terrorists mixed in with hostages.

It’s real-life training on a simulated city street with two three-story buildings, parked cars and buses and even a No Parking sign at the police training facility in Rodman’s Neck.

Cops usually come here to train in search warrants and firearms tactics for typical city crimes. Now they’re drilling for urban warfare.

Sgt. John Doyle explained why the team members position themselves at cross-angles.

“I’m relying on him and he’s relying on me to see each other’s blind spots,” he said.

There’s good reason for the intimidating shouting at hostages.

“People tend to be nervous, scared and the key is to get control of them to guide them out as quickly as possible,” Doyle said, standing amid the flurry of cops herding us out. “It’s vital not to lose sight of them.”

After each scenario, instructors critique the trainees, who wear 35-pound vests with the added weight of ammunition and flashlights as they run up and down stairs.

“We do 20 to 30 scenarios each day,” Beatty said. Some include “simunition” – fake bullets.

The Police Academy also has begun introducing rookies to the use of automatic weapons.

The cops spend two days on these drills after two days of practicing on the firing range with the Ruger Mini 14, a 6 1/2-pound rifle that shoots .223-caliber bullets, which are about twice the length of a 9-mm. slug.

There was a deafening string of gunfire as a line of 20 cops shot into targets, the bullets hitting the pond and reeds beyond.

In one exercise, dummy bullets are put in the Mini 14, to teach trainees that if anything happens with the rifle, they are to drop it and go to the 9-mm. pistol on their belt.

Sgt. Steve Morrissey, supervisor of special weapons at the range, said rookies are being familiarized with assault weapons in case they have to use one.

In addition to the Mini 14, they’re using the Colt M-4, which can be fired semi or fully automatic. Only ESU officers regularly carry M-4s.

“We’re giving them the concepts needed to deal with a Mumbai-style incident,” Beatty said.