I work in Chelsea in a building that overlooks the Javits Center.  Fairly often, I'd say at least once a week, I see a massive police convoy speeding away from Javits down the West Side Highway or 11th Avenue.    Each of these convoys average about 30 cars.  A few times, there have been as many as 50 squad cars, sirens blazing, flying with impunity through traffic.

 I don't know where these cars are going or who they are protecting because I can't find any information anywhere.  In each of these cars are two police officers, which I know because they've sped by a few times while I've been waiting for my gyro at the street-meat stand.

 As far as I know, there haven't been any riots or street protests that would warrant this kind of police presence.  I know Barack Obama wasn't in town, and Ahmadinejad didn't come to the West Side. 

 Does this seem like a massive waste of taxpayer funds to anyone but me?  Maybe they had a purpose to what they were doing, but from my vantage point it just seemed like a joy ride to show off NYPD's numbers.  Those 60-100 officers, the gas they are using, and the squad cars that aren't patrolling seem like they could be put to better use.

 I would appreciate any information that anyone has on this subject or other incidences of police and taxpayer waste.