NYPD's Jessica Tisch says department will use drone interception technology for the first time to protect the U.S. Open tennis tournament

The upcoming U.S. Open will be the first time the NYPD uses drone interception technology under a new federal law to provide security at the sprawling tennis tournament, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch disclosed Friday.

Specially trained officers will be at the Flushing Meadows venue to use the mitigation technology as part of a massive police presence — deployed 24 hours a day — for the duration of the competition, Tisch said at a news conference.

"This will be the first major event where the NYPD uses the drone mitigation authority, and it will be the first event in the country when state and local law enforcement conducts independent drone mitigation operations," noted Tisch, explaining that the authority was granted by the recently enacted Safer Skies Act.

The law requires that law enforcement agencies have personnel trained and certified by federal authorities to use the drone mitigation technology. Although Tisch didn’t elaborate on the technology being used, commercial drone websites note that the systems have the ability to detect and track unauthorized drones, while others can electronically take control of a drone, electronically jam it or otherwise disable it.

Previously, in big events in the area like the recent World Cup games, the federal government had sole authority to use drone mitigation technology, Tisch explained.

Hundreds of officers and traffic agents will be assigned to the tennis tournament, which begins with Arthur Ashe Kids' Day on Aug. 23, while the main events will commence Aug. 30 and run through Sept. 13, according to Tisch.

Officials estimate the crowds at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center will total 1.2 million as about 300 top tennis players compete in the 146th edition of the tournament.

Tisch noted that there were no specific credible threats to the event but that a full array of NYPD personnel will be involved, including the bomb squad, aviation and emergency services units, and heavy weapons teams, as well as bomb-sniffing dogs. There will be both uniformed and plainclothes officers in attendance, the commissioner said.

Parking around Arthur Ashe Stadium will be limited, and Tisch strongly urged tournament attendees to turn to mass transit to get to the stadium. She also said that the public should be aware of any strange or suspicious activity and, if needed, alert police.

By Anthony M. DeStefano

tony.destefano@newsday.comtonynewsday

Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.