The New York City Police Department possesses the capability to shoot down any type of aircraft if the city experiences a 9/11-type of attack in which commercial airliners or other aircraft are used as Kamikazes.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly told CBS TV news program 60 Minutes that the force had the “device and training” for such an attack and “would have some means to take down a plane in an extreme situation."
Police sources later admitted the NYPD owns a Barrett .50 caliber machine gun, which is fitted to a police helicopter for extra security such as when a U.S. president visits the city. The .50 caliber is used in Iraq and Afghanistan mounted on U.S. military Humvees and helicopters.
A few months after 9/11, when the new Mayor, Mike Bloomberg, moved into City Hall, new Top Cop Ray Kelly created a counterterrorism operation second-to-none. The NYPD's Intelligence Division, Special Operations Division, Emergency Services Units (SWAT), and other police units underwent advanced training in terrorism and counterinsurgency operations.
Overseas, NYPD detectives routinely work with Britain's Scotland Yard and other foreign police agencies in an intelligence-gathering capacity in an effort to run an intelligence operation independent of the CIA, NSA and other federal agencies.
For example, during the terror attacks in London's transit system, the Tubes, NYPD detectives were at the crime scenes collecting intel on the attacks and attackers.
While most New Yorkers -- and Americans in general -- find the NYPD's capability of bringing down a plane that could cause hundreds -- even thousands -- of deaths, there are some who find this scenario disturbing.
"I've said it for many years, we are slowly but surely militarizing our local police departments," said former NYPD police detective Sidney Francis. "What's next? Smart bombs to go after drug dealers? Drones to take out suspected mobsters?"
Another law enforcement executive, this one in New Jersey, is also upset with this latest revelation. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, he questions President Barack Obama having military personnel behaving more like police officers -- including giving terrorists Miranda warnings on the battlefield. "They aren't sworn police or peace officers," he said.
The New Jersey commander believes that while soldiers behave like cops in Iraq and Afghanistan, police officers may sometimes behave like military special forces teams. "We're cops. We're not Navy SEALs or Green Berets. We're cops out here working to protect and serve our fellow citizens."
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