Forum On Safety For Religious Groups, Houses Of Worship To Be Held In Hudson County

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — Two months after the FBI warned North Jersey residents of a "broad threat" to area synagogues, Hudson County and federal officials have scheduled a program to keep religious communities and houses of worship safe, the County Prosecutor's Office said Thursday.

The day after the FBI announced its warning last Nov. 3, they arrested a suspect. But groups like the Anti-Defamation League have said that threats to certain religious groups ramped up. It was only four years ago that several people were gunned down at a Kosher grocery store in Jersey City.

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said Thursday that the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, in coordination with the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, would host a Houses of Worship Security Program on Tuesday, Jan. 31.

The program, intended to provide faith leaders with security resources to keep their communities safe, will be held at the Hudson County Schools of Technology, 1 High Tech Way in Secaucus, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., Suarez's office said.

Speakers will include Suarez, NJOHSP Division Director Thomas Hauck, Randy Parkes of the NJOHSP Training & Exercise Bureau, Ehtasham Chaudhry of the NJOHSP Operations Bureau, FEMA Faith-Based Coordinator Race Hodges, and DHS Protective Security Advisor Dan Schultz.

Topics to be discussed include active shooter response training, new State legislative emergency planning requirements for houses of worship, and other resources available to faith-based organizations.

“As one of the most diverse communities in the country, Hudson County is a melting pot of all
races, ethnicities, and religions,” said Suarez. “Houses of worship should be safe spaces for individuals to freely practice their religion, without any concern for their safety. We, along with our State and Federal partners, are committed to working with all faith leaders to ensure they have access to resources to keep their congregations safe and prepared in the event of an emergency.”

“The Houses of Worship Security Program is one of many NJOHSP initiatives aimed at ensuring
that New Jersey is a safe place to worship,” said NJOHSP Director Laurie Doran. “It’s a
collaborative effort coordinated with our federal, State, county and local partners all to provide
faith-based communities with essential information, resources and contacts.”

All Hudson County religious leaders, security coordinators, and congregations of all faiths and
denominations are invited to attend. Participants are asked to RSVP online here.