NYPD Holds Online Community Meeting to Provide Plans for Extra Protection Throughout Yom Tov

By Yehudit Garmaise

     NYPD Police Commissioner Dermot Shea, Deputy Inspector Richie Taylor, the Chief of Community Affairs Chief Jeffrey Maddrey and other NYPD leaders met with more than 300 community members, leaders, and journalists today on Zoom to present the department’s plans to protect the community as the fall Yom Tov season begins on Sept. 6.

    As the first day of Rosh Hashana falls on Labor Day, Chief Maddrey, who was the first of many who gave Dep. Inspector Taylor a Mazel Tov for having recently had a baby daughter, called the confluence of holidays “a challenge” because of the demands both holidays will put on the NYPD.

   Although New York City will not hold a parade this Labor Day, Chief Maddrey said that some Labor Day festivities will be held throughout the city.

     Nevertheless, of course, Chief Maddrey reassured the meeting’s many participants that the NYPD will have an increased presence in Boro Park, Crown Heights, Williamsburg, Flatbush, and other Jewish communities that he has already gone out to visit to prepare for their extra protection throughout Yom Tov.

     “We will make sure to protect and maintain the community at this holy time,” said Chief Maddrey, who said, as always, the NYPD will be working closely with Shomrim and Hatzalah to continue to fight hate crimes, terrorism, and gang violence. “Together, we will show a sense of calm, sensitivity, and solidarity.

     “With the help of our community partners, we are the best in the business when it comes to deploying resources, knowing what is going on, and knowing we are in the right community at the right time.”

     To explain how he connects with community leaders, Chief Maddrey pointed out a calendar that he keeps close by with the days that are Yom Tov, the phone numbers of community leaders, and when he can reach those leaders. 

     Citing an example of beautiful and triumphant collaboration between the NYPD, Shomrim, Hatzalah, and 300 community volunteers, Chief Maddrey thanked everyone who helped to find 7-year-old Yosef Shapiro, who was missing for hours in Canarsie Park, after being left behind from a day camp trip.

     Leading the NYPD leadership on the ground, Chief Maddrey said, was Dep. Inspector Taylor, and without the collaboration and partnership of Jewish community leaders, “the results could have been tragic,” G-d forbid.

     Chief Maddrey called the finding of Shapiro “an incredible show of community policing.”     

     In addition to everyone in the community who helped to find the young boy, who was found “knee-deep in a marsh," Chief Maddrey said, "after the NYPD brought out all of our equipment, leadership, and many officers.

     “As always, the many community leaders stay in close contact with us to guide us and to give us the right direction, which is what we need to allow the NYPD to do what we do best, which is to take care of the community.

     "We look forward to seeing you over the holidays."

     Rabbi Reuvain Feinstein, shlita, joined the meeting to speak from his desk in Staten Island and to give special thanks to the NYPD.

     "We consider each and every member of NYPD the protector of our rights and safety," Rabbi Feinstein said. "I commend, honor, and respect them, and I want them to know we pray for them."

      In discussing the meeting, Dep. Inspector Taylor said that the common thread of the briefing today was that, "We will be out there.

     "While there are no credible threats specific to New York City right now, we know that we must be vigilant.

     "We will do everything possible to protect your rights to hold services and to pray in peace."