Police Promise Full Presence around Boro Park this Shabbos, after Meeting with Leaders at Misaskim Headquarters

By Yehudit Garmaise

     A full police presence will surround and penetrate Boro Park throughout the 25 hours of Shabbos, top ranking police commanders told representatives of Boro Park's Orthodox Jewish community in an emergency meeting at the Misaskim Headquarters in Boro Park.

     In addition to increasing their presence, the NYPD has been instructed to drive with their lights on while patrolling Jewish neighborhoods.

     Also in attendance at the meeting were many Community Affairs officers, NYPD Chiefs, and Hate Crimes Deputy Inspector Jessica Corey, who participated via phone from Police Headquarters in Manhattan.

     “We never know what they have in mind,” said one community member at the meeting. “Hopefully, after the cease-fire, nothing will happen. 

      “There is a lot of hate going on in the community.

      “The only thing we have, with G-d’s help is the New York City Police Department, so we are are asking again for whatever can be done so that the community can feel secure, we would greatly appreciate it.”

       In response, a police commander said, “Brooklyn is the most diverse borough in the entire city.

       “We can disagree, but we can live together peacefully.

       “I want to assure you: We are going to do everything we can to make sure that everyone in the community is safe.”

       The first thing the NYPD asked of Jewish leaders was to make sure to inform commanding officers of any scheduled or unscheduled events and protests that could result in conflict.

       “We get intelligence on when these things are scheduled, but when things ‘pop-up’ unscheduled, then we are not there, and we are not prepared to deal with it.”

        For instance, the police officer said that the anti-Semitic violence that broke out last night in the Diamond District in Manhattan took place during a protest in which the police were not informed in advance.

       “Yesterday, [the protest] was not reported [in advance,] and [therefore,] we were not ready to accommodate the situation, and you saw what happened.”

       Last night, at 6pm, a 29-year-old Jewish woman suffered burns on her back after a someone who was screaming ant-Semitic slurs, tossed fireworks at her from a passing car on W. 47th St. in Manhattan. A half an hour later, a 29-year-old Jewish man was kicked, beat, and blinded for hours by pepper-spray by a mob of six pro-Palestinian “activists.”

       The NYPD are searching for five more perpetrators of the mob, however, police have taken into custody 23-year-old Waseem Awawdah, of Brooklyn.

      Patrol Boro Brooklyn South’s Deputy Chief Ruel Stephenson told the gathering that the NYPD is taking these incidents very seriously and are actively investigating all previous incidents.

      Furthermore, the NYPD advised, if vehicles pass through Jewish neighborhoods waving Palestinian flags or shouting from their windows, the Jewish community should refrain from responding to or engaging at all with them.

     “Simply notify the police immediately, and let us handle it,” a police officer said. “Engaging with these individuals likely can result in violence.”

     While NYPD Intelligence and Counterterrorism Detectives said that they are working around the clock to monitor social media for any planned events, officers reassured community members that, as of now, there are absolutely no credible threats.

Photos by: Dovid Jaroslawicz/BP24