Boston Steps Up Security For First Night

BOSTON (CBS) - As Boston gets ready to ring in the New Year, police are working to make sure First Night revelers are safe.

Copley Square was a beehive of activity Wednesday night as work crews were busy setting up stages and trucking in ice sculptures for the big celebration.

These days, safeguarding against terrorism is crucial but city leaders still want everyone to enjoy the event.

"We had the Christmas Tree Lighting on Boston Common where we had thousands of people come out," said Mayor Marty Walsh. "And that was certainly after a couple of events that we had around the country and what happened in Paris so come out and enjoy the city of Boston."

Boston Police will be out in force, some of them undercover, joined by other agencies.

"We'll have plenty of officers out there, we'll have bomb dogs, we'll have everything possible we can," Boston Police Commissioner William Evans said. "But I'm always a little weary of having an over presence that we intimidate people."

Police are discouraging people from bringing backpacks and coolers to public spaces in the city on First Night.