Home News Local News Major homeland security training exercise taking place on East End waterways today...

Major homeland security training exercise taking place on East End waterways today through Saturday

One of 24 law enforcement vessels participating in a major training exercise on the East End today through Saturday. Photo: Peter Blasl

Multiple law enforcement agencies are conducting a full-scale homeland security training exercise in East End waterways today through Saturday.

Dubbed “Operation Blue Trident,” the exercise led by N.Y. State Department of Environmental Conservation police will deploy 24 vessels and more than 100 personnel from 23 local, state and federal agencies. They will conduct radiological detection training, perform navigational boating safety, marine fisheries compliance, and environmental monitoring operations, according to the governor’s office.

It is the first training of its kind on the East End.

“Long Island is a vital gateway to the New York Metropolitan area, and we must be fully prepared to handle any crisis that threatens the well-being of New Yorkers,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement.

“Preparedness, organization and coordination are key in any emergency response, and this exercise will help ensure that New York is ready and able to deal with anything that threatens our heath, environment, or security,” Cuomo said.

Seven law enforcement vessels brought in for the training exercise were docked in downtown Riverhead overnight. Several came from upstate, DEC police director Joseph Schneider said. Other, larger vessels were docked in Shinnecock.

Training operations will take place in the bays and will be visible from many points on the North Fork shoreline. Residents and visitors to the area should be aware that this is only an exercise, officials said.

The East End Marine Task Force — comprising the Riverhead, Southold, Shelter Island, East Hampton, Sag Harbor, Westhampton, Quogue and Southampton police departments — is participating in the exercise, along with the Suffolk County sheriff’s office, Suffolk County Police Department, NYS Police, NYS Park Police, the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, the U.S. Coast Guard, National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.

SoutholdLOCAL photos by Peter Blasl

Seven law enforcement boats on the East End for ‘Operation Blue Trident’ docked overnight in Riverhead. Other, larger vessels docked in Shinnecock, police said.
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Denise Civiletti
Denise is a veteran local reporter and editor, an attorney and former Riverhead Town councilwoman. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards, including a “writer of the year” award from the N.Y. Press Association in 2015. She is a founder, owner and co-publisher of this website.