SALEM, Mass. — A Massachusetts tourist hub is weighing adding more bollards and security in the wake of the devastating New Year’s attack in New Orleans.
In a joint statement, Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo and Chief of Police Lucas Miller said that it would be “short-sighted” to not recognize that the Witch City is a potential target for terrorists.
“The starkest lesson seems to be that while New Orleans enacted very similar measures to Salem to keep people on the street safe, the assailant was able to simply drive around barriers, either because mechanical bollards were out of service or because he drove on the sidewalk. Another lesson is that while Mardi Gras would be the most likely event for an attack in New Orleans, any well-attended event is a target. Salem also has events throughout the year,” the statement read.
Salem city leaders said they have discussed installing additional bollards, both mechanical and fixed, to better secure pedestrian areas. The city will also seek to acquire additional mobile vehicle barriers and more concrete “Jersey barriers.” Planning for pedestrian-only areas will have to be more rigid and enforced more completely this October. ‘
City officials also plan on reexamining police staffing levels in October, when tens of thousands flood the city each year for Halloween festivities.
“This may necessitate bringing in more additional officers from other communities and agencies. And, to help us plan effectively and appropriately, we will seek outside specialist review of our existing Haunted Happenings public safety plans. This conversation is not over, and we will continue to evaluate information from New Orleans to better learn from that terrible attack and improve on our own safety operations here in Salem,” the statement read.
“While we are thinking about Salem, today we also grieve with the City of New Orleans and with the families and loved ones of those killed yesterday,” Pangallo and Miller continued. “We hope for a full recovery for all who were injured, and we stand in admiration for the NOPD officers who ended the threat and saved additional lives.”
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