Suffolk, Nassau cops in 'dirty bomb' drill

Police in Nassau and Suffolk counties said drills Thursday to detect radiological threats moving through Long Island to New York City were successful.

"Today's activity involved a maritime portion on the North Shore and a roadway portion on the South Shore. Both went well," said Insp. Stuart Cameron of the Special Patrol Bureau of the Suffolk County Police Department.

Nassau County police also reported success in detecting the potential threats. "It went well," Deputy Chief Frank Kirby said as the exercise was drawing to a close.

Cameron and Kirby declined to discuss specifics for security reasons.

While the exercise is part of a federal Securing the Cities Initiative, it is also an opportunity for the suburban departments to test their abilities, Kirby said.

"Obviously, it poses a risk to the city and to us if it was the real thing, and this was a test of our capacity," he said.

"Each day's participation depends on information developed the previous day," Kirby said. "Today, the task was to detect, identify and remediate a radiological threat moving through the county and possibly to New York City for construction of a dirty bomb."

The five-day exercise, begun Wednesday and coordinated by the NYPD, involves four cells of fictional terrorists -- actually law enforcement officials -- transporting low-level radioactive substances in and around the city.

Suffolk and Nassau police will be actively involved in another drill Saturday.