Rockland Leaders Hold Security Briefing Ahead of the Yomim Tovim

By Y.M. Lowy

With the Yomim Tovim approaching, Rockland County officials and law enforcement came together for a security briefing to discuss the measures being taken for the safety of residents during our holiday season. 

Rockland County is unique in New York State. Though it is the smallest county, it has a complex policing structure: five towns with their own departments, three villages with independent forces, the Rockland County Sheriff’s Police Division, and coverage from the New York State Police.  Each agency will have increased patrols around Shuls, with several towns deploying drones as part of their monitoring efforts.

Ramapo Police Chief Daniel Hyman, speaking on behalf of the Rockland Police Chiefs Association, noted that his department alone conducts more than 15,000 checks of religious institutions each year. 

While there is no specific or credible threat right now, officials are being extra vigilant. According to the county’s Crime Analysis Center, there have been 23 reported hate crimes in Rockland since last year, and 18 of them were targeted at Jewish residents.

Ethan Erlich, Senior Regional Security Director for Rockland County, reiterated the effort of these agencies to ensure safety. “Keeping the Jewish community safe requires a team effort,” he told Rockland Daily. “We're lucky in Rockland County that we have elected officials, law enforcement, and community groups that all work together so closely. Right now, the threat environment is quite serious - we don't want to alarm the community, but we work every day to try to prepare the community to be more secure and more prepared.”

Yossi Margaretten of Chaverim of Rockland explained the Chaverim system in place, which includes many security booths, a central command center, and a dispatch system allowing residents to request assistance at one of those. Volunteers patrol in cars throughout Monsey, Chestnut Ridge, Spring Valley, Pomona, Montebello, New City, Airmont, Forshay, New Hempstead, Haverstraw, and Stony Point etc. Because nobody will use a phone for a non-emergency, residents can also flag down patrol cars directly for help.

Other speakers included Elder Ben-Yosef, Senior Security Consultant with ISA Security, and William Hayes, Senior Regional Security Director with CSI Westchester/Bronx. Together, they prepared in every way for the Yomim Tovim approaching.