Police officers in Easthampton and Northampton say increased vigilance on their part — and that of the public — is necessary in the wake of events like the attack in Berlin on Monday.
The attack in which an assailant reportedly drove a speeding tractor-trailer through throngs of Christmas shoppers claimed 12 lives.
“That’s what we’re up against,” said Easthampton Police Chief Bob Alberti on Wednesday. “It’s certainly concerning.”
Alberti said his department closely monitors intelligence reports from state and federal officials and continues to “aggressively patrol” big crowd events.
Northampton Police Captain John Cartledge said the uptick in mass killings and terrorist attacks has changed the way the department approaches events.
“Over the last few years with big things that have happened throughout the country and the world we’ve increased our security and pre-planning for all big events,” he said, referencing downtown happenings like the Hot Chocolate Run, Northampton Pride and upcoming First Night. “We encourage anyone who sees anything suspicious to call or flag down an officer so we can investigate.”
Cartledge said the department deploys a mobile emergency command center. In partnership with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), these unified command centers are staffed by MEMA officials as well as local police, fire and dispatch.
Alberti said the between attacks on police officers and increased terrorism officers these days “have to have their heads on swivels.”
“Certainly with the attacks on police officers in this day and age we have a difficult job,” he said.
Amanda Drane can be contacted at adrane@gazettenet.com.