Last Tuesday I was at Ground Zero. Just before 2p.m. about 30 police cars arrived piecemeal and parked on the side walk. At 2p.m. they drove off with their sirens sounding. Can anyone tell me why this was ?

Francis, I had something similiar happen to me this past June (2004). We were at Ground Zero when around 50 or more police cars lined up and down both sides of the street, and many of the officers got out of their cars and lined up on the sidewalk. I worked up enough nerve to approach an officer and ask what was going on (I was a little concerned!), and he told me it was just a drill--that was all I could get out of him. The police probably stayed in the area 20 minutes and then left. It was very interesting! Maybe your experience was also a drill???

They drill like this frequently in different locations downtown, including around the NYSE. Pretty creepy, eh?

strong police presence is a regular occurence in NYC. Not as creepy as it is sad that this is what this world has turned into. I live in Manhattan and I have never felt safer. It's just a shame that this is what it has come down too as a result of groups or inviduals that will go to any length to disrupt peoples freedom. (FYI - I am a Canadian married to an American)

Thanks for your responses. I was unable to work out what was going on as it was all low key or as low key as that many police officers can be. No-one seemed to be doing anything structured or moving people or indeed waiting for anything.
I was intrigued to watch the way the police cars reversed on to the sidewalk after many attempts and taking layers of rubber off their tyres as they tried to get the cars up the edge of about 4 inches!

As was mentioned, it was probably some emergency response drill. My brother is a Lt. with the FDNY and they drill at least once a week as a unit and occassionally participate in larger drills.

As part of its stepped up presence at high profile targets, you might also see a heavily armed ESU (a SWAT unit) descend on an area for some period of time. There are several reasons why they do it, none of which warrant discussion here.

BTW, I saw about 30 police cars in a convoy this morning head across 57th Street and then take positions at various intersections on 5th. I assumed it was some kind of drill as the streets were pretty quiet at that hour.