A Very Real Payoff for Preparedness Training
By Dr. Christopher T. Jones, Superintendent Center for Domestic Preparedness
New York City Police Officer Wayne Rhatigan, of the mounted police force, sits on his trusty steed Miggs in Times Square. Officer Rhatigan credits CDP training for his decisive response to evacuate a specific area of Times Square following an attempted car bombing in May 2010.
Here at the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) we focus on delivering all-hazard preparedness training for local, tribal and state first responders. This training is timely, skill-based, and a critical investment in more resilient communities. Time and time again, we have seen cases of CDP alumni putting what they have learned with us to workâsaving lives, protecting property and making our country safer for all Americans.
For example, last spring in the attempted Times Square car bombing in New York City, NY. On May 1, 2010 a local vendor noticed smoke seeping from the rear of a parked vehicle and alerted a nearby officer, Wayne Rhatigan. Officer Rhatigan, who attended CDP training at New York City's Training Center, quickly enlisted the help of two other officers patrolling the area to create a perimeter, to prevent casualties in case the car exploded. They also alerted the bomb squad, who was on scene within minutes to help diffuse the situation.
The vehicle was carrying a large amount of accelerants and explosives that could have killed hundreds, not only from the blast, but from the collateral damage of buildings. The quick thinking by Officer Rhatigan, who acknowledged his CDP training resulted in his decisive response to evacuate, rather than investigate the smoking car a little closer, helped thwart the attempted attack.
NYPD academy instructors and CDP Instructor Rich Teemsma (a former NYPD Bomb Squad Detective) taught Rhatigan's classes, which trained officers in the RAIN (Recognize, Avoid, Isolate, Notify) concept related to protection from improvised explosive devices. Rich commonly tells his students if they find a suspicious package they should "RAIN on it."
So when I think about how our training can benefit all communities, I look at the actions of Officer Rhatigan as a great example. His CDP training helped protect citizens in Times Square that day. CDP alumni leave our training better equipped to protect their hometowns from very real hazards, and we are honored to play a part in that investment.
NOTE: The man responsible for the attempted attack, Faisal Shahzad, was sentenced to life in prison October 5, 2010.