Thousands of police and earlier finish planned for West Indian Day Parade
The parade will end at 5.30pm, half an hour earlier than in recent years, after six people were shot in late-afternoon incidents last year.
NEW YORK, United States. New York City will end Monday's West Indian Day Parade at 5.30pm, a cut-off officials say is designed to prevent the late-day gun violence that marred last year's celebration.
The earlier finish is part of a wider security plan that will put thousands of New York Police Department (NYPD) officers and hundreds of community violence prevention workers and volunteers along the route and in surrounding Brooklyn neighbourhoods, officials said on Friday.
"Last year, we saw three separate shooting incidents on or near the parade routes at approximately 5:35, 6:15 and 6:30 p.m., resulting in six people being shot," Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. "The NYPD was forced to shut down last year's celebration as a result of this violence."
"I want to be very clear: this year, there will be zero tolerance for violence of any kind," she said.
J'Ouvert screening
Officials said there were no known specific or credible threats against the parade or J'Ouvert.
J'Ouvert will run from 6am to 11am along Empire Boulevard and Nostrand Avenue, with spectator access opening at 2am. Spectators will enter through 13 checkpoints and be screened with magnetometers. Weapons, alcohol, coolers, backpacks, large bags, chairs, bicycles and scooters are among items banned.
The parade, which starts at 11am on Eastern Parkway, will not have controlled entry, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said, though police presence will be increased.
The NYPD will deploy its Emergency Service Unit, aviation and mounted officers, K-9 teams, counterterrorism personnel and the bomb squad. Drones will give officers real-time views of crowds, and a counter-drone team will respond to unauthorised drones.
Community teams
The city's Office of Community Safety has been working with Crisis Management System organisations since July on a five-day operation covering five police precincts and 20 zones, seven more than last year, Mamdani said.
Eight teams of 337 staff and volunteers began deploying on Thursday to mediate conflicts and intervene in disputes. Mobile trauma units will also be used.
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said there had been some "tense moments" in planning talks between police, organisers and elected officials over balancing security with the cultural character of the celebration.
He said organisers welcomed extra policing while pushing for a larger role for community safety groups. "I think everybody came with their tools, and we figured out what is the best plan to go forward," he said.
Street closures for J'Ouvert begin at 11.30pm on Sunday. Eastern Parkway will be fully closed from Utica Avenue to Grand Army Plaza from about 10.30am on Monday.
