Please Be Aware
Squirrel Hill resident Thomas Hill has been charged with Harassment, Ethnic Intimidation and Disorderly Conduct for yelling F* Israel and antisemitic rhetoric from a tan Chevrolet sedan on and off since March 2025 in Squirrel Hill. His court date is August 20, 2025.
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Church in Baldwin PA is the latest victim of vandalism and desecration. The Virgin Mary statue, a plaque and doors on an old convent on the property were found with spray painted anti-Catholic and antisemitic messaging. The Baldwin Borough police department has turned over the case to the FBI.
Edward Arthur Owens Jr., 29, a resident of Elizabeth, PA, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of making a threat to injure a local public official and making false statements to government agents. The threat was made via a social media messaging app and the false statements were made to an FBI agent in late May 2025. The indictment can be seen here Western District of Pennsylvania | Elizabeth Man Indicted for Making Antisemitic Threat to Injure Local Public Official and Making False Statements to FBI | United States Department of Justice. Owens remains in custody.
Secure Community Network (SCN) shared its 2025 High Holiday Webinar and Training Series. There are 10 webinars that will run from August 7–September 18. View the full schedule and register here Secure Community Network Launches 2025 High Holiday Security Briefing Series with Focus on Threat Landscape, Preparedness Roadmap, and Key Resources.
So far in 2025, we have logged 198 incidents in our Virtual Command Center. This compares to 181 for 2024. We continue to collaborate 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
- FBI investigating anti-Catholic, antisemitic graffiti at Pittsburgh-area church (CBSNews.com)
- Pro-Palestinian activist in New York charged by feds for torching 11 police vehicles (thetimesofisrael.com)
- American Jewish community spends $765 million on security annually, JFNA tells Congress (jewishinsider.com)
BluePoint Status
Yeshiva Boys should be complete by the end of today. Charles Morris installation is scheduled to begin next week. BluePoint is now live in 31 of the 33 locations. Police boxes have been installed at 28 of our organizations, enabling law enforcement to have immediate access in an emergency.
Security Resources and/or Training
High Holiday Readiness: Practical Steps for Communities and Campuses
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) ...
PCCD Grant Workshop
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 United States + Google Map
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh Security team invites nonprofits and faith communities to a workshop on applying for the FY27 the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency (PCCD) Nonprofit Security Grant Fund. This grant supports organizations serving individuals at risk of hate crimes. We’ll cover grant guidelines, security assessments, threat documentation, budgeting, narrative writing and implementation.
Guardian: Identify. Protect. Respond.
Guardians take personal responsibility for the safety and security of themselves, their families and their communities. Learn the skillsets that help you identify, protect and respond to all hazards and become an Active Bystander in your community. 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 Webinar Series, de...
Guardian: Identify. Protect. Respond.
Guardians take personal responsibility for the safety and security of themselves, their families and their communities. Learn the skillsets that help you identify, protect and respond to all hazards and become an Active Bystander in your community. 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 Webinar Series, de...
Welcoming, Inclusive & Prepared
This session addresses critical emergency preparedness considerations for all congregants, with a focus on elderly attendees, individuals with mobility challenges, families with children, neurodiverse members and caregivers. The program features experts who implemented a practical, inclusive model, offering lessons and best practices for easy adoption in your own community. As we approach the High Holidays, proactive planning is essential to ensuring our communities remain safe, welcoming, and p...
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...
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.
