By COLlive reporter
Photos: Menachem Cohen/COLlive
NYPD Chiefs, Commanding Officers, Detectives and police officers joined community leaders at the Jewish Children’s Museum in Crown Heights on Wednesday for a pre-High Holiday community safety event.
Hosted by Devorah Halberstam at the Jewish Children’s Museum and led by Chief of Department Rodney Harrison, the only 4 Star Chief and the highest-ranking Chief in the NYPD, the event brought together Commanding Officers and community leaders from throughout Brooklyn North and South that oversee Jewish communities to discuss the upcoming High Holidays and the extra security measures that will be put in place to protect the Jewish community. It was organized by Commanding Officer of Community Affairs Deputy Inspector Richie Taylor.
Devorah Halberstam, Honorary Commissioner of Community Safety at the New York Police Department, introduced Chief Harrison and noted that he is the first Chief of Department to ever bring together the Chiefs and Precinct Commanders together with the community leaders to discuss the deployment and safety measures for the Jewish holiday season because he “recognizes the fragile world we are living in.”
Renowned author and lecturer Rabbi Simon Jacobson gave the invocation, blessing all in the NYPD and their communities for a safe and happy new year.
Chief Harrison opened the event by stating that each Commanding Officer will relate the strategies they are using in their neighborhoods, including extra officers and increased police protection, to make sure all the communities are safe during these times of heightened crime and the rise in anti-semitism in New York City and the world.
He thanked Devorah Halberstam for her leadership in the new civilian-led Hate Crime Review Panel in New York and her work fighting hate crimes in the city.
Chief Harrison called upon Chief Michael Kemper of Brooklyn South and Chief Judy Harrison of Brooklyn North, who had the Commanding Officers of the various precincts outline their deployment for the Jewish holiday season.
Commanding Officer of the NYPD 71st Precinct in Crown Heights, Joseph Hayward, spoke about the efforts being made for the month of Tishrei in the neighborhood when thousands of visitors arrive from around the world to spend the Tishrei holidays in Crown Heights.
In attendance were Commanding Officers of the 60, 61, 62, 63, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, and 90 Precincts in Brooklyn, as well as representatives of Hatzalah, Shomrim, Misaskim, and the Jewish Community Councils of Boro Park, Williamsburg, Crown Heights, Flatbush, Midwood, and others.
The event was sponsored by a resident of the Crown Heights Jewish community in honor of NYPD Police Inspector Hayward, Officer Mike Baratta, head of NYPD Community affairs of the 71 Precinct, and a long time friend of the Crown Heights community, as well as Chief Kemper and Chief Harrison.
Devorah you make us proud !