NYPD Transit Bureau’s K-9 Unit & The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade
Notes to myself on The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade & Those Who Serve.
The fascination with the Thanksgiving Day Parade started with the movie Miracle on 34th Street. Everything ran in the direction of Herald Square as Macy’s was synonymous of Christmas once you saw Santa Claus riding on a float at the end of the parade.The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade has been one of New York’s favorite events since it’s inception in 1924 having trumpeted in the start of holiday season attracting tourist from all over the globe.
From the first sight of those glorious balloons, which are the stuff children’s dreams are made of, to the icing on the cake finish of seeing Santa in his sleigh on the final float of the parade,this living treasure rings in the holidays for both young and old alike.
For years I debated making the trip into the city to watch the parade, and for years the thought of getting out of bed at the crack of dawn didn’t sound so attractive. The cold city streets couldn’t possibly compete with being in my own warm home watching it on a TV.
The first time for everything.
There is something magical and innocent about this historical parade. Stepping out of a taxi before dawn I quickly met hundreds of fellow New Yorkers who had arrived hours earlier prepared to weather those single-digit temperatures to stake claim by planting a blanketed collapsible chair on the sidelines guaranteeing them the perfect spot to view the parade from. The weather certainly didn’t stop anyone from coming out on one of the coldest Thanksgivings on record. Everyone was prepared and warmly dressed with hats, scarves and gloved hands that seemed to be clutching paper cups filled with hot cocoa and coffee, while sitting or standing at the police barricades talking with each other. It was hard to ignore the feeling that a spark of something special yet to come made it far easier to forget just how cold it was outside.
At first glance this parade appears effortless but when you look closely you get a far clearer picture of what it takes to get to produce this.
The New York Police Department has played the most intricate part in the parade. In this day and age of threats everywhere, without them this parade simply couldn’t happen. There has always been security at parades but this seemed far larger than anything I have ever seen. With crowd sizes hovering around 3 million the main priority is keeping everyone safe. The NYPD and all law enforcement agencies involved did just that.
While walking towards the parade route lines of garbage trucks were blocking many streets along the parade route, as well as more police than anyone could possibly imagine in a lifetime. It’s easier for the spectators to breathe a sigh of relief knowing that public safety will always be the most important thing to the NYPD and all law enforcement involved. Seen or unseen, when agencies cooperate and work together the outcome will always be far more successful.
The NYPD did make this beautiful day shine even brighter as they stood amongst the people diligently watching the crowds. The K-9s remained calmly focused, never flinching or becoming startled by the clowns coming towards the spectators seated directly behind us that tossed confetti into the crowds. One would have thought the noise of the bands and loud drums would have distracted them but these K-9s are so well trained they worked scanning the crowds and continued to work while staying close to their partner.
K-9s are trained to detect not just drugs, but guns and explosives. On the front line they are a deterrent to help fight against violent crimes. The K-9s I saw on Thanksgiving were German Shepards, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Malinois and German Shepard mix, Labradors and German Shorthaired Pointers. These dogs that serve are all intelligent and had hundreds of hours invested in intensive training. They are powerfully strong, and when necessary, aggressive. With a sense of smell that is far more sensitive than our own they can sniff out dangers we couldn’t possibly smell.
I have been told by many in law enforcement that the majority of the law enforcement dogs are coming from Europe and are bred strictly to to meet the physical attributes necessary to meet that standard. These dogs are not just placed with any officer but carefully chosen to match the right handler. It’s only when the right handler ( officer) and K-9 are paired are they considered to be a K-9 unit. The commitment of this relationship isn’t taken lightly, as this is a grueling job with long hours. It’s hard and stressful work where the training of these K-9s is always on going. Every single officer I’ve spoken with have all repeated the same thing- it doesn’t stop when the clock stops. These officers are continuously training with their K-9 partner to keeps them sharp and in top shape to do the job.
These K-9 units are beyond priceless to the public. Between the men and women of the NYPD and over fifty K-9 units out on the parade route and side streets this was an enormous success. The NYPD vigilantly watched out for the security and safety of a city filled with people who were out enjoying this traditional parade and did it in a way which can make us proud.
They are officers of the law first yet the love and compassion they have within them for the people they protect always shines through when you meet and speak with them. On this day they were super heroes out to protect and defend in a crowd of three million of people.
Towards the end of the parade with music fading into the air I suddenly found myself thinking of the powerful words from one particular officer I’d spoken to early that day that was now resonating like music to my ears, “I don’t see color as we are all blue and here to help everyone who needs us.”
With that I give thanks to the NYPD and all Law Enforcement Agencies allowing us to feel secure and safe in the places we call home knowing we are protected by the very best. These noble K-9s serving along side the men and women of law enforcement are all the keepers of peace and bring that with them every single day they step out to do their job.
Sincere Thanks to Sergeant Richardson and Officer Checo for generously giving me hand warmers to warm my freezing hands on certainly one of the colder days this year.
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We are all blue.
