Please Be Aware
Pittsburgh Police are investigating the vandalism and desecration of the We Stand with Israel yard signs that occurred Monday and Tuesday in Squirrel Hill. At least twelve residents awoke to find red hand prints and red splatters on their yard signs. We are asking that anyone who has information on this to file an Incident Report with us and call 911. See below article for more information.
Today, the Jewish Federation is launching a Virtual Block Watch Program, a volunteer network that can be called upon to provide residential or business video surveillance footage to help prevent, deter, and possibly solve crimes. The program is entirely voluntary and is designed to keep our community safe through collaborative efforts. We are starting this program in Squirrel Hill and will look to expand it from there. For more information, please go to our Virtual Block Watch landing page.
YTD 2024, the Jewish Federation has logged 73 incidents in our Virtual Command Center. This compares to 23 YTD 2023. We remain in a heightened threat environment and are working closely with law enforcement to monitor potential threat activity.
Security Matters in the News This Week
- Pittsburgh Police investigating vandalism of pro-Israel signs in Squirrel Hill (cbsnews.com)
- Squirrel Hill vandalism illustrates spike in antisemitic acts in Pittsburgh, nation (TribLIVE.com)
- Jewish communal groups reiterate concerns about security grant funding cut (jewishinsider.com)
- Swastika, vandalism found at Old Greenwich School, officials say (greenwichtime.com)
- Advice on how to keep your Jewish event safe (The Forward)
BluePoint Status
Please review your current contact lists in BluePoint. If changes are needed, please contact Erin Fagan at [email protected].
Our BluePoint training video and refresher video are available on YouTube. These are useful for new staff or as a reminder for existing staff.
Security Resources and/or Training
Navigating Digital Threats: Strategies to Prevent Online Child Exploitation
Ahead of the next school year, please join the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse for a virtual training on preventing and responding to online child exploitation in K-12 communities. This session will feature a panel discussion with experts from the U.S. Department of Justice and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, who will share valuable tools and resources to combat online child exploitation and educate teachers, students and families.
Guardian Training
Please contact Erin Fagan at [email protected] or 412-992-5252 to schedule this training.
Situational Awareness, Active Threat, and De-Escalation Training
If you or your organization have not yet had these training modules, please contact Erin Fagan at [email protected] or 412-992-5252. All can be made available in person or via Zoom.
Request Training for Your Organization →
If you need more Emergency Safety Procedures Flip Charts contact Erin Fagan at [email protected] or 412-992-5252.
