Please Be Aware
A 34-year-old man identified as Ivo Stjepovic is facing charges of ethnic intimidation and criminal mischief for slashing an Israeli flag at a residence in the Mexican War Streets area of Pittsburgh on January 17, 2026. Law enforcement is actively looking for him. See the article below for more information.
There have been multiple reports of the “Jury Duty Scam” circulating through the community. These reports often seem real at first, but please remember that Law Enforcement will never call you telling you that you have an active arrest warrant and then solicit you for payment. If you receive this or any variation of these calls, hang up and contact your local police and contact your Security Team. For more information visit Scam Alert – Fifth Judicial District of Pennsylvania
So far in 2026 we have logged 22 incidents in our Virtual Command Center which is in comparison to 22 at this time last year. Please continue to report any suspicious incidents via the Incident Report Form.
Security Matters in the News This Week
- Arrest warrant issued for suspect accused of slashing Israeli flag outside of Pittsburgh home (CBSnews.com)
- Student accused of sending antisemitic emails at Queens school (PIX11.com)
- Man charged after saying racial epithets to woman at Westmoreland County Walmart (WPXI.com)
- Man arrested on suspicion of vandalism hate crimes targeting Jewish businesses in the San Fernando Valley (dailynews.com)
BluePoint Status
BluePoint is now live in 34 of the 36 locations. Police boxes have been installed at 29 of our organizations, enabling law enforcement to have immediate access in an emergency.
Security Resources and/or Training
Power of Hello Training
The Power of Hello training equips you with the knowledge and skills to observe and evaluate suspicious behaviors. It empowers you to mitigate potential risk by knowing when to seek additional help. When used effectively, the right words can be a powerful tool. As we approach the High Holidays, proactive planning is essential to ensuring our communities remain safe, welcoming, and prepared. The Secure Community Network (SCN) is pleased to announce our 2026 High Holidays Safety and Security Webin...
Power of Hello Training
The Power of Hello training equips you with the knowledge and skills to observe and evaluate suspicious behaviors. It empowers you to mitigate potential risk by knowing when to seek additional help. When used effectively, the right words can be a powerful tool. As we approach the High Holidays, proactive planning is essential to ensuring our communities remain safe, welcoming, and prepared. The Secure Community Network (SCN) is pleased to announce our 2026 High Holidays Safety and Security Webin...
Ensuring Readiness, Security and Empowerment for the High Holidays
Is your community ready for the High Holidays? Securing Our Space offers practical guidance to strengthen both physical security and personal preparedness. Learn how to implement layered security measures, keep your emergency supplies accessible and empower your community to respond confidently and effectively during an incident. As we approach the High Holidays, proactive planning is essential to ensuring our communities remain safe, welcoming, and prepared. The Secure Community Network (SCN) i...
A Practical Discussion on Physical Security Improvements
Ask the Security Experts Join Secure Community Network for an interactive conversation about today’s most important physical security challenges. Hear practical recommendations from a nationally recognized security expert and leave with strategies you can put into action. PREPARE • PLAN • STRENGTHEN Speakers Debbie Gottlieb Director of Grants Management Secure Community Network Jeffrey Slotnick Founder & President, Setracon
In the event of an emergency, please be aware that we have adopted the Standard Response Protocol to best communicate across communities and emergency response teams.
Request Training for Your Organization →
If you need Go Bags, Emergency Safety Procedures Flip Charts or medical supplies contact Erin Fagan at efagan@jfedpgh.org or 412-992-5252.
