Canton and Local Police, ADL Gather at Bank of Canton for Training

The and Anti-Defamation League () New England attracted 200-plus area police officers from about 50 different local, state and federal police agencies to the Bank of Canton Corporate Offices for training in “Domestic Extremism: The Sovereign Citizen Movement and the Rise of Homegrown Islamic Extremism Since 9/11.” 

The training, which also included the U.S. Army, focused on the new faces of homegrown violent extremism.  Christopher Magyarics, Northeast Investigative researcher for the ADL, and Oren Segal, Director, Islamic Affairs and Left Wing Research Center on Extremism for the ADL, made presentations to the police officers. 

“The Bank of Canton is privileged to host this critical training not only for the Canton Police Department but also for the vast law enforcement community throughout the region,” Costello said. “As a community bank, we truly appreciate the efforts of local, state and federal law enforcement to keep our communities safe and free from hate.”

Canton Police Chief Ken Berkowitz presented a plaque to Israel “Izzy” Geller of Canton, for his 10 years of service to the Canton Police Department as its top crossing guard. 

Noting that Geller is also a survivor of several concentration camps, Chief Berkowitz called him a “true hero” during the Holocaust for risking his life at age 14 to help save fellow Jews from the Nazis.  He added that police officers played a role in putting the Nazis in power and that we all can make a difference in stopping the spread of evil.

Chief Berkowitz thanked Costello for hosting the presentation and called the Bank of Canton “a great partner to law enforcement.”

-Press release provided by the Bank of Canton.