Police to increase presence during High Holy Days

Report suspicious activity to 911 or hotline number

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At the request of local religious and community leaders, Nassau County police will intensify their patrols around synagogues, schools and sensitive locations for the upcoming Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur holidays, Acting Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter said at a Lawrence Village Hall meeting on Sept. 19.

An increased police presence includes plainclothes cops, an intelligence center with a special task force, a 24-hour hotline for reporting incidents, and the Jewish Community Resource Center’s reward initiative.

“The people that know the community best are you,” Krumpter said, referring to residents. “You live and work here. You know best what happens here. If you want updates, call the hotline number. The number will be maintained throughout the Holy Days. If you call it, you will get a detective.”

Village of Lawrence Mayor Martin Oliner said that the reason for the meeting was to express concern about safety measures in his community during the High Holy Days. “We have a unique community, where within one block, we have four synagogues,” he said. “We are more targeted than anyone else. We also live in an area that’s close to the airport so we need to take caution.”

Krumpter stressed the need for a partnership between the police and Five Towns communities. “Complacency is our biggest risk,” he said. “We are living in a time where we have terrorist groups like ISIS (the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria).”

Rabbi Kenneth Hain of Congregation Beth Shalom in Lawrence also expressed community members’ concerns. “This is not a business-as-usual phenomenon,” he said. “This is a worldwide issue. All of us have this feeling that we need to stress this issue with law enforcement to make sure we have the protection we need.”

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said that the increased police presence, along with the vigilance of community members, is the best deterrent to criminal behavior. “Law enforcement can’t do this alone,” she said. “You in the community are our eyes and ears. You’re our first line of defense. If you see something, say something. No community should live in fear.”

If anyone witnesses suspicious activity outside near or any other high-traffic public area, report it by calling 911 or the 24-hour hotline number at (516) 573-7720.