Preventing terror attacks: What Long Island officials do to stop potential threats at home

Inside a vast conference room in Nassau County, law enforcement officers from around the region convened recently to discuss potential threats, including the war in Iran and the potential for blowback on American soil.

Welcome to "Terror Tuesdays."

It's the intelligence briefing held weekly in Nassau, drawing a vast assortment of law enforcement agencies from across Long Island, including Suffolk police, and around the region.

It's a necessary intelligence sharing exercise, police officials say, as wars involving the United States and its allies rage around the world and the local police are charged with protecting the public from any potential retribution.

And a slew of upcoming high-profile events, such as the 250th anniversary of the United States, the World Cup and  the U.S. Open Golf Championship at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, highlights the need for law enforcement on Long Island to be acutely engaged in the battle to prevent attacks.

"We started at the top of the peak, 25 years ago right after 9/11, but now when you look at what's going on in Iran, and what's going on in Israel and Gaza, it's obvious,  we're at the peak again," said Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder. "And we stay focused."

'Invaluable help'

Long Island's proximity to New York City makes it an attractive target for a variety of attacks by organized groups, or a lone-wolf attacker, authorities said.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said the department's connection with the NYPD — and its vast counterterrorism efforts — as well as its involvement in organizations like the Major Cities Chiefs Association are key to helping protect Suffolk residents.

"Those relationships are really invaluable, and that's something that we learned in the NYPD — if there's an attack in London, it could have ramifications here, right? And we were able to, through our contacts overseas, the NYPD, get that instant information, boots on the ground. So you know that kind of ability to reach out, not only nationally, but internationally, if there is a terrorist attack somewhere, you know, really will help us here."

Catalina, a 27-year veteran of the NYPD who became Suffolk police commissioner in 2025, said he's bolstered security at large-scale events in the county since becoming Suffolk's top cop.

'People that come to our attention'

Some of the enhancements have included officers on roofs toting long guns, garbage and fire trucks along the perimeter to protect foot traffic and metal barriers, as well as more covert things the public may not see, such as cameras and undercover officers in crowds.

"Quite frankly, when we looked at those events, you know, we weren't really thrilled with what we saw," Catalina said. "I think it was, we tend here to say, 'Well, it never happened before, so we don't necessarily have to worry about it happening in the future.' "

A counter-drone program is on Suffolk's wish list. 

"Drones scare me," Catalina said. "We see what's happening in the Middle East. We see what's happening in Ukraine and Russia, as far as weaponizing drones. So that's something that we want to be able to, again, have the autonomy to stop on our own."

Catalina also brought on an NYPD leader in counterterrorism last year. Suffolk’s Deputy Police Commissioner Thomas Galati, a 39-year veteran of the NYPD, retired as the chief of intelligence and counterterrorism where he oversaw the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Intelligence Division and the Counterterrorism Division.

"We also have a threat team where we're monitoring — it doesn't necessarily have to be, you know, an organized terror group or a designated terror group — today we're worried also about different scenarios, like ... people with grievances that may go to a business and an active shooter, or school shooter," Galati said. "People that come to our attention ... will conduct an investigation to see if they pose a threat."

An eye on drones

In Nassau, having drone defense capabilities is also paramount. 

"So if I was ever asked, ‘What do I need the most in this world?' It’s drone mitigation," Ryder said.

Ryder said his department has drone identification technology and was one of the first counties in the state to have it after New York City.

"I can see a drone flying from 2 miles away, coming toward my direction, and I can see the guy flying the drone. He's right there in Elmont, five blocks from where the [UBS] arena is," Ryder said. "Why is this drone coming from that direction? Well, because it was probably manned and built with whatever explosive in that area to bring it to my destination. So now I got to stop that drone."

A top target

New York City and the surrounding suburbs, including Long Island, remain the top target of terrorist groups in the country, said former Long Island Republican  Rep. Peter King, a longtime member and sometime-chairman of the House's Homeland Security Committee.

"To most people, unfortunately, I hate to say it, 9/11 is almost like in the rearview mirror," King said. "It's like Pearl Harbor or Gettysburg, stuff that happened a long time ago. And really, in many ways, the terrorist forces are as powerful now as they were on Sept. 10, 2001."

King said he remembers when local departments on Long Island weren’t really interested in counterterrorism, though he saw that change immensely. 

"In the beginning, actually, those first couple of years, Pat [Ryder] was sorta, kinda like a voice in the wilderness," King said. "He was like the guy in the department really pushing it. Some of the people at the top weren't concerned at the time."

Police on Long Island are particularly attuned to the needs of churches, synagogues and mosques for enhanced security in light of various global and national events, authorities said. Last year, for example, Nassau police made 37,000 visits to houses of worship and 30,000 visits to schools, Ryder said.

Smaller departments on Long Island are also part of those efforts.

Global threat, local threat

Old Westbury police department Chief Stuart Cameron said that while the Nassau police department is "very generous" with its resources, his 28-member department has gotten its own assets — like drones — to monitor and protect.

"Global threats definitely become local threats," said Cameron, who retired as the top chief in Suffolk before commanding Old Westbury. "And you really do have to pay attention to them because you certainly don't want to be surprised."

Cameron, who said he’s gotten some $2 million in grants to purchase much-needed technology in Old Westbury, said his department has been in communication with leaders of a large Hebrew congregation in the village. 

"It's been a concern since Oct. 7 happened, said Cameron, referencing the deadly attack on Israeli civilians in southern Israel. "And this [recent war in Iran] just really ramped it up substantially."

Preventing another 9/11

Nassau police let Newsday inside the "Terror Tuesdays" briefing room, providing a first-time public view into part of the police department's anti-terrorism apparatus. (The reporter and photojournalist were only permitted to stay for the beginning of the meeting and were dismissed before any confidential topics were discussed.)

Terror Tuesdays started three months after 9/11 as a four-person meeting. It has since expanded to include police officers, lawyers and intelligence analysts from more than a dozen law enforcement agencies and other entities.

"Three months after 9/11, we started our first intel meeting here in Nassau County," Ryder said. "It started with four people. Now, you’ll see in the room today, there's gonna be about 70 people."

Ryder said law enforcement can’t lose focus because the plotters of attacks don’t.

"They only got to be right once," the commissioner said.