Please Be Aware
The Jewish Federation would like to welcome Eric Kroll as our Deputy Director of Security. Eric recently retired after 30 years of service with Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and is a tremendous asset to security team and community. Please see article below.
A settlement has been reached in the Mario Askar case, the former city of Pittsburgh employee who was charged with theft and ethnic intimidation targeting a Jewish residence on the Northside in April 2024. He has been sentenced to one year of probation, 20 hours of community service to be served with a Jewish non-profit organization, and one hour of conversation with the homeowner. Please see article below for more information.
Investigation is ongoing into last week’s threatening targeted antisemitic graffiti at Chabad of Squirrel Hill, Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and two Squirrel Hill residences. Please know that there are no known threats of violence at this time.
We are working closely with our university public safety departments as we anticipate anti-Israel protests with the return of students to local college campuses.
Year to date 2024, the Jewish Federation has logged 184 incidents in our Virtual Command Center. This compares to 158 year to date 2023. We remain in a heightened threat environment and are working closely with law enforcement to monitor potential threat activity. Please continue to report any suspicious incidents via the Incident Report Form.
Security Matters in the News This Week
- Pittsburgh man accused of antisemitic vandalism reaches settlement (cbsnews.com)
- Antisemitic flyers found at Charleston hotels; Man charged after giving police Nazi salute (wchstv.com)
- Federation welcomes new deputy security director (jewishchronicle.com)
- Agencies investigating fire outside Jewish Museum of Maryland (wmar2news.com)
BluePoint Status
This week we will be starting installation of BluePoint at JFCS and Weinberg Terrace locations.
Please review your current contact lists in BluePoint. If changes are needed, please contact Erin Fagan at efagan@jfedpgh.org.
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
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
Guardian Training
Please contact Erin Fagan at efagan@jfedpgh.org 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 efagan@jfedpgh.org or 412-992-5252. All can be made available in person or via Zoom.
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.
