Police Will Show Presence in Crown Heights

By COLlive reporter

Following the anti-Semitic attack on the Chabad center of Poway, California, in which a woman was killed and 3 others injured, Chabad centers, Shuls and Jewish schools around the country have stepped up security measures.

In Crown Heights, community activist Rabbi Chanina Sperlin met with New York Police Department 71st Precinct Inspector Francis Giordano to discuss the measures being taken in the neighborhood to protect residents.

As Inspector of the 71st Precinct, the area which his precinct covers include most of the Jewish schools in the neighborhood, including Bais Rivkah, Lubavitch Yeshiva, Bais Chaya Mushka, Cheder Menachem, Bnos Menachem, Darchai Menachem and Bnos Chomesh.

Sperlin will also meet with the Inspector of the 77th Precinct John Buttacavoli, to discuss security measures for the schools in their area as well, including the Oholei Torah and Chovevei Torah schools on Eastern Parkway.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and the people in California,” Inspector Giordano told COLlive.com following the meeting. “We’ve been monitoring the situation since it happened, and we immediately bolstered our Passover coverage.”

Giordano said that “Going into the week, we’ve assigned additional patrols in the neighborhood, and the community should expect to see additional patrol cars in the vicinity of the schools, with lights on to bolster their presence. We will continue to monitor the events during the week and will assign coverage as needed.

“We will continue to speak to the community representatives like Rabbi Sperlin and be very vigilant in keeping the community safe. If anyone in the community has any information relative to any situation that could be a potential danger to the community, we need to hear from them. And we encourage all residents that if you see something, say something.”

As reported on COLlive.com, extra patrols have been assigned at Lubavitch World Headquarters – 770 Eastern Parkway since the attack in California. “We will continue to monitor the situation at 770,” Giordano said.

Giordano said he does not have an answer as to how long these measures will be in place. “We will continue as needed,” he said. “Since the events are very recent, the new measures will continue into this week. We will monitor the events and provide coverage as needed.”

Update: Sperlin has spoken with Chief Jeffrey Maddrey, Commanding Officer of Patrol Borough Brooklyn, early Monday. Maddrey assured him that he will provide extra patrols for the North side of Crown Heights, which includes the area of Eastern Parkway.

“Of special concern were the Oholei Torah Zal and Chovevei Torah Mesivta, since the bochurim walk around there at later hours,” Sperlin told COLlive.