Police Tighten Holiday Parade Security After Waukesha Attack

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said there are no know threats to the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Parade but his agency is monitoring.

In the wake of a deadly attack on a Christmas parade in Waukesha, WI, last weekend, law enforcement in cities hosting some of the nation's largest Thanksgiving week parades are tightening security and revising traffic plans.

The horror of the Waukesha attack, whick killed six and injured 60 — had law enforcement officials in southeast Michigan saying this week they were reviewing security plans for holiday events, including the annual parade in Detroit. 

After discussing the tragedy in Waukesha, Detroit police command staff decided to add "extra measures" to increase parade security this week, a spokesman said. Likewise in Oakland County, all county sheriff’s substations were notified to be aware of risks for community events.

Detroit police would not reveal most of the extra measures they plan to take, but one extra measure won’t be a secret. The city will park DPS trucks to buttress standard police barricades at key access points, and these "will not allow vehicles to enter the parade route,” Second Deputy Chief Rudy Harper told the Free Press.

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea told PIX11 there are no know threats to the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Parade but his agency is monitoring.

The police commissioner encouraged people to come down and celebrate with everyone as it will be great weather and a phenomenal day. “We’ll be prepared,” he said. When asked what people heading to the parade should do, Shea said “dress warm and say ‘Thank you’ to a cop.

In Philadelphia, Chief Inspector Michael Cram of the police department’s Homeland Security Division reminded residents the city’s parade route and surrounding streets will be closed and you can expect a police presence throughout, CBS reports.

“Our plans are specifically designed to prevent that (an attack) as best as possible. Not every plan is flawless, we always go in with a plan to hopefully cover every situation that could arise,” Cram said.

For those who may be hesitant about coming, “we will provide a safe environment for you to come down and enjoy the day with your family,” Cram said.

And in Los Angeles, the annual Hollywood Christmas Parade is scheduled for Sunday. ABC7 reports that organizers and city officialsL.A. Department of Transportation Chief Brian Hale said his team already has a massive traffic security plan in place ahead of Sunday's road closures.
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