NYC Ramps Up Security for Pope's Visit

April 17, 2008— -- Reconnaissance submarines, radiation detection trucks and a fleet of well-equipped helicopters: From land, water and sky, the New York City Police Department is taking extraordinary security measures for Pope Benedict XVI's historic visit to the city.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly allowed ABC News exclusive access to the department as it prepared to provide what he said is "the highest level of security possible" for the pope's trip.

Police scuba divers are already patrolling the waters near the United Nations, preparing for the pope's Friday morning speech before the General Assembly.

A short distance away, a heavily armed patrol boat — one of 26 police vessels patrolling the city's waterways — conducts reconnaissance. And a three-foot robotic reconnaissance submarine complete with sonar, radiation detectors and a camera dives down to see what's beneath the water's surface.

Kelly said the city will have "several thousand officers devoted to the pope's security each day," and that the security level will perhaps be greater than in Times Square on New Year's Eve.

"We're going to have the pope here for three days, so the level of intensity over an extended period of time will be very high," he said.

Though there is no specific threat against the pope, al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden mentioned him in his latest audio message, which was released last month.

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Kelly said the bin Laden tape is a factor, but "quite frankly, we would have provided this level of protection" without that message.

"This is a world figure, a national figure, an international figure that has been subject to these threats," Kelly said. "So we are going to do everything possible to make sure that the pope's visit here is a safe and happy one."

That mission is critical, given the situation: a highly visible world leader visiting the metropolis of New York.

"Much of what they [terrorists] do is theater," Kelly said. "They want to put the show on for the world to see. And this is the world's biggest stage."