NYPD trains staff at hotels to spot gun cases

Allison Easterbrooks pauses at memorial for the 58 people killed in Sunday’s shooting in Las Vegas by a sniper armed with almost two dozen weapons. US President Donald Trump visited survivors and met with fi rst responders on Wednesday. Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press

The New York Police Department is training hotel staff how to spot gun cases and is increasing security at outdoor events following the killing of 58 people by a sniper from the 32nd floor of a hotel room in Las Vegas.

The NYPD's Intelligence Bureau trains hotels employees to spot suspicious behavior by guests. But Sunday's mass shooting has prompted police to take additional training steps with hotel security staff and housekeepers because they have what Deputy Police Commissioner John Miller called "the best observation ability to spot something suspicious."

Miller, head of the Counterterrorism and Intelligence Bureau, said hotel workers are trained to recognize chemicals and other items that can be used to make explosives, and now they are adding gun cases.

"Everybody knows what a rifle looks like," Miller said. "But what does a gun case look like, as opposed to a golf bag or regular luggage? So we have added that in."

Police said gunman Stephen Paddock used 10 suitcases to take nearly two dozen firearms to his room in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino before he smashed windows and opened fire on a crowd of concertgoers 500 yards away, killing 58 people and injuring 527 others.

Though New York City officials have said there are no credible threats of mass casualty violence, they said upcoming concerts and other large gatherings will include more uniformed officers for visibility, anti-sniper teams, police helicopters overhead and other measures not apparent to the public. SummerStage concerts are planned for Central Park Friday and Saturday.

On Tuesday night, police said that anti-sniper teams and more heavy weapons teams were posted around Yankee Stadium for a baseball playoff game. No incidents occurred.

Police officials said that extra security is part of the same security deployed at the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade and the New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square.

Newsday reported that officials said that at a minimum the NYPD uses three counter-sniper squads at big outdoor events.

NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill said on Tuesday that despite intensive security measures, there is only so much that can be done.

"We do understand that no city or town in this country is completely immune to such unbridled hatred," he told reporters.

In Chicago on Sunday, 45,000 runners will take part in the city's annual marathon. Mayor Rahm Emanuel said emergency officials, including federal authorities, have conducted roughly a dozen workshops to talk through various scenarios and tthat the city is prepared for "any eventuality".

"People don't just show up on marathon day and decide to run 26 miles. They train all year," Emanuel said. "That's also true of the Chicago police."

The Austin City Limits music festival is offering refunds to anyone uncomfortable with attending following the Las Vegas shooting. The three-day outdoor festival opens Friday and packs Austin, Texas' downtown with about 75,000 people each day.

aiheping@chinadailyusa.com