For 9/11, Police Step Up Security With 'Operation Safeguard'

In the six months leading up to the tenth anniversary of 9/11, Bedford police have stepped up security checks in sensitive areas around town and conducted an outreach program to businesses to educate them about suspicious activities that could lead to terrorism.

"Recent major terrorist attacks—in London, Madrid, and Times Square, big attacks involving bombs—were all logistically supported from the suburbs or outlying areas of a city," said Bedford Police Chief, William Hayes."It's hard to get people to buy into that this is important, but it's critical that we are all vigilant, even in a small town like Bedford."

A month after September 11, 2001, then-Gov. Pataki established the New York Office of Homeland Security and set up 14 counter-terrorism zones throughout the state, according to the department's website. A few years later, Operation Safeguard was created as a way to educate businesses to be on the lookout for suspicious activity.

Bedford police have implemented the program, which includes keeping up-to-date contacts with businesses in the area, as well as informing them on how they could be used by terrorists to acquire materials, skills, or training in order to carry out an attack.

"For example, we talk with all of the pool supply companies about reporting when one person tries to purchase large amounts of chemicals, and let the medical groups with radiation on site know about potentially dangerous situations," said Lt. Jeffrey Dickan. "It's about educating the public, and raising awareness on things to watch out for."

Dickan and Hayes repeated their oft-uttered mantra, "if you see something say something," emphasizing that the only way to stay on top of things is having the ordinary citizenry play a part.

"Wouldn't it be great if all of the town residents were on alert for suspicious activity?" said Hayes.

If a resident does see anything suspicious, they can call Bedford police at 241-3111 or call the state "terrorism tips" line at (866) 723-3697.

Both said they were not expecting any incidents to occur over the weekend, but Hayes said "anything can happen."

"We live in a different world," said Dickan. "On Sept. 11, life changed forever."