Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County executive, updated the public on new security measures ahead of former President Donald Trump’s scheduled visit to Nassau County.
The rally, which will take place at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum at 7 p.m. Wednesday evening will be the first rally since the second assassination attempt on his life occurred Sunday in Florida. Doors open at 3 p.m.
Blakeman, alongside Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder and elected officials, discussed the expected traffic congestion and how the county will be keeping attendees safe.
Local resources that will be available to facilitate traffic and protect the attendees include volunteer firefighters and EMTs, Uniondale Fire Department, the Bureau of Special Operations, local aviation and the special investigation squad.
Blakeman said Operation Overwatch will be in effect, activating the detective division, canine unit, highway patrol, CERT unit, the Emergency Ambulance Bureau, the Office of Emergency Management, the Department of Health, and the fire marshal’s office.
“We feel very confident that we will have the assets necessary to make sure that this is safe for everyone,” Blakeman said.
Blakeman said the Secret Service is in control of the security for this event, but they are working in conjunction with the county. He said the New York State Police, NYPD and MTA police have also been “very helpful” in planning this trip.
“Suffice to say that every unit of the police department will be utilized on that day,” Blakeman said.
When asked if there are any credible threats at this time, Blakeman said he could not comment on that.
Blakeman said the traffic will be “incredibly heavy” from noon to 10 p.m. He said if you don’t have any business in the area, stay away unless you live or work in East Meadow, Uniondale or Hempstead.
Ryder said the parking lot at the coliseum will be locked down the night before the rally. He said there will be a “complete sweep” of the lot Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
“Anybody that is deciding to go to either Eisenhower Park or Mitchell Field to get there early and park their cars, that’s fine,” Ryder said. “Everybody will go through the main gate on the turnpike. There is no other entrance.”
This event is first come, first served. Blakeman said the rally may not accommodate as many people as he would like. He said to buy tickets for the rally, visit DonaldJTrump.com.
