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Last Pieces of 1 World Trade Center Are Rising
by VERENA DOBNIK
One World Trade Center already is New York's tallest building.
And when the last pieces of its spire rise to the roof — weather permitting — the 104-floor skyscraper that replaces the fallen twin towers will be just feet from becoming the highest in the Western Hemisphere.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says the spire pieces plus a steel beacon will then be lifted at a later date from the rooftop to cap the building at 1,776 feet.
Installation of the 800-ton, 408-foot spire began in December, after 18 pieces were shipped from Canada and New Jersey.
The spire will serve as a world-class broadcast antenna.
With the beacon at its peak to ward off aircraft, the spire will provide public transmission services for television and radio broadcast channels that were destroyed on Sept. 11, 2001, along with the trade center towers.
Overlooking the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, the high-rise is scheduled to open for business in 2014.
The tower is at the northwest corner of the site, which is well on its way to reconstruction with the 72-story 4 World Trade Center and other buildings.
Monday's celebration of the reconstructed trade center comes days after a grisly reminder of the terror attack that took nearly 3,000 lives: the discovery of a rusted piece of airplane landing gear wedged between a nearby mosque and an apartment building — believed to be from one of the hijacked planes that ravaged lower Manhattan.
As officials prepared to erect the spire, the office of the city's chief medical examiner was working in the hidden alley where debris may still contain human remains.
The new tower's crowning spire is a joint venture between the ADF Group Inc. engineering firm in Terrebonne, Quebec, and New York-based DCM Erectors Inc., a steel contractor.
The world's tallest building, topping 2,700 feet, is in Dubai.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/pieces-world-trade-center-rising-19063371
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New Jersey
Police to Host Emergency Preparedness Seminar
Representatives from several township agencies will be on hand
The Teaneck Police Department's Community Policing Squad will host a seminar on preparing for emergencies next week.
The public event is planned for May 9 at 7 p.m. at police headquarters.
"This will be the second offering of the seminar which will include various topics such as emergency communications and utility emergencies," a police department announcement said. "In attendance will be representatives of the Teaneck Police Department, the Teaneck Fire Department and the Teaneck Office of Emergency Management."
The Police Department's Community Policing unit has hosted several similar events in an effort to education residents ahead of major incidents.
Anyone with questions can call police at 201-837-2600
http://teaneck.patch.com/articles/police-to-host-emergency-preparedness-seminar
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From the Department of Homeland Security
DHS at 10: The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
by Connie Patrick
Director, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center's (FLETC) mission is to “train those who protect our homeland.” To carry out this mission, the FLETC serves as an interagency law enforcement training organization for 91 federal agencies or partner organizations. Throughout 2013, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is commemorating its tenth anniversary by recognizing key initiatives and employees who have contributed to successes while considering new and innovate ways to achieve its mission. In recognition of this important milestone, leaders from across the Department will be discussing the work they've done over the previous decade as well as their current efforts and plans for the future.
Building on these engagements, I recently answered questions about the past, present and future of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. The men and women of FLETC look forward to continuing our service and mission to provide fast, flexible and focused training to secure and protect America.
How did FLETC operate before the creation of DHS?
Since it was established in 1970, the FLETC has provided basic and advanced training to federal, state, local, rural, tribal, territorial, and international law enforcement personnel. With decades of experience meeting the training needs of multiple law enforcement communities, the FLETC was poised to embrace a broadened mission when it formally transferred from the Treasury Department to the Department of Homeland Security in 2003. Over the past forty years, approximately 1,000,000 law enforcement officers and agents have been trained at FLETC. During FY 2012, almost 70,000 students received FLETC training.
How has FLETC changed since its incorporation into the Department?
The transition to DHS prompted a refocusing of many FLETC training programs as well as the creation of new ones to meet emerging needs, such as anti/counter-terrorism, flying armed, intelligence awareness and critical infrastructure protection. The rapid advancement of technology and the borderless nature of many crimes highlighted a need for enhanced training in technical areas such as computer forensics, cyber investigations, and financial fraud. The recognition that terrorism can occur anywhere at any time led to a rural training initiative that ensures officers working in the most remote areas have access to critical training.
As the law enforcement landscape becomes increasingly complex, we constantly seek emerging training needs in areas such as human trafficking, drug-endangered children, and countering violent extremism. The importance of proactively identifying new technologies to enhance training prompted us to integrate advanced simulators into firearms, driver, maritime, and interview training.
What have been some milestones for the FLETC, and how do you see it evolving in the next 10 years?
We recognize the critical role state-of-the-art facilities play in providing realistic training. In 2004, the FLETC began constructing a Counter Terrorism Operational Training Facility designed to provide an immersive environment to address evolving threats. Most recently, we opened an Intermodal Training Facility where frontline law enforcement personnel experience scenario-based training to better deter and combat threats across major transportation modes; and soon will open a 35+ acre complex named Danis City, an urban/suburban training facility featuring realistic venues and a high-tech forensics lab.
These and other innovations are needed to connect with new generations of students, who only know a world where technology is omnipresent. The FLETC looks very different than it did only 10 years ago, as we aim to ensure our students are more prepared than ever before.
http://www.dhs.gov/blog/2013/04/25/dhs-10-federal-law-enforcement-training-center
