Community Leaders Meet With The 107th Police Precinct

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On Oct. 30th Chazaq hosted a meeting between community leaders and Deputy Inspector Scott Henry and Community Affairs Detective Tom Motta from the 107th police precinct to discuss safety in the community. Many ideas were shared and many concerns were discussed. The general consensus of course remains that improvement and preparation is always crucial.

The first concern brought up by the Deputy Inspector was the importance of basic protocol. For example, the Jewish community keeps the Sabbath, a time which cell phone use is prohibited. However, there is a need to make sure that a cell phone is always available in shuls and accessible for any emergency situation. If there ever is a situation, G-d forbid, the few minutes it may take to locate a working phone on Shabbat can make all the difference. Basic protocol also includes the assignment of someone in the shul as a watchman during prayers. This watchman should be responsible for watching the main entrances into the prayer room while the congregation is focused on praying. Simple steps such as these can go a long way in keeping people safe.

The Deputy Inspector also discussed the patrol schedule in Kew Garden Hills. He assured the attendees that the 107^th precinct is fully confident in its ability to police the entire area, including all the shuls. The Police have multiple units on patrol, and are also working on freeing up more units from timely situations like car accidents. The Police are aware of the different shuls in the area, and have access to the blueprints for many of the buildings. The police also have a special unit which goes through periodic training for all kinds of situations.  Finally, the Deputy Inspector acknowledged that many shul members may feel a need for special training in case of crises. However, he stressed that most effective preparation is preemptive and defensive. Shuls could do more for their congregants’ safety with basic protocol.

By the end of the meeting, it was clear to all of the attendees that that the 107^th precinct understands the concerns of the community. Their main message to the community is that even though the danger of crises is always real, the community can do much to prevent such occurrences by taking the proper precautions.