Nassau County launches security campaign

Two days before the start of the Jewish High Holy Days, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano came to Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David to unveil the county’s new “See Something, Say Something” campaign.

Accompanied by Assemblyman David McDonough, chairman of the Assembly Task Force on Public Safety, and flanked by top Nassau County police officials, including Police Commissioner Thomas Dale, as well as several rabbis with congregations in the county, Mangano made reference to recent shooting incidents, acts of racism and anti-Semitism and the unrest in the Middle East. Though he emphasized that there are no specific terrorist or hate crime threats against the county, the unfortunate reality, Mangano said, is that in these times, “We must be prepared.”

“The county will intensify police patrols around temples and synagogues during the Jewish holidays,” he added. “All religious leaders should know that the Nassau County Police Department will take any and all threats to public safety seriously, as nothing is more important than the safety of our residents.”

Mangano reiterated the county’s mission to combat racism and inequality, and said that police intelligence officials would continue to coordinate with state and federal agencies and use information about past crimes to predict where criminal action might occur.

“Residents can help be the eyes and ears for the Police Department,” Mangano said. “Don’t assume a package, bag or box was left somewhere by accident. If you see an unattended package, at or outside a church, temple, train station, synagogue, mall or high-traffic area, or if you see something suspicious, report it. Let the police know. Dial 911. If you’re unsure about something or your gut tells you something might not be right, call our Nassau County Police Department tip line at (516) 573-7720.”