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
2025 Faith-Based Pre-Holiday Virtual Workshop
Holiday Safety for Faith Communities As the holiday season approaches, it is important to keep our churches, congregations, and communities safe. This free virtual workshop, designed specifically for faith-based leadership and their communities, will cover key safety and security tips for the fall and winter months. The training will include a DHS threat brief, legal issues in providing security within houses of worship, and practical strategies for seeking peace within our faith communities. ...
2025 Faith-Based Pre-Holiday Virtual Workshop
Holiday Safety for Faith Communities As the holiday season approaches, it is important to keep our churches, congregations, and communities safe. This free virtual workshop, designed specifically for faith-based leadership and their communities, will cover key safety and security tips for the fall and winter months. The training will include a DHS threat brief, legal issues in providing security within houses of worship, and practical strategies for seeking peace within our faith communities. S...
FY2025/2026 Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) Guidance
Please join the Secure Community Network (SCN) and subject matter experts for a workshop on the NSGP implementation process, including completing the Environmental & Historic Preservation Form (EHP), with a Q&A session at the conclusion of the webinar.
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.
