Security Firm Volunteers To Help Rockland Jewish Community

A Pearl River-based security firm has volunteered to supplement local law enforcement attempts to protect Rockland County's Jewish communities in the wake of two violent attacks and an uptick in local anti-Semitism.

A man with a machete launched a terroristic attack at a rabbi's home in the Rockland Hasidic community Saturday night. It occurred a month after a man was stabbed while walking to a Monsey synagogue. His getaway van was tracked to New York City by police within a couple of hours. An Orange County man faces attempted murder and hate-crime charges.

As of Sunday night, Brosnan Risk Consultants began providing armed security for some Jewish organizations in the county, and monitoring social media. At a press conference Monday with Rockland County Executive Ed Day, a former colleague from the NYPD, CEO Patrick Brosnan said his team was comprised of highly trained off-duty or retired law enforcement professionals.

"I live approximately eight minutes from the scene of the crime," the longtime Rockland resident said. "I am personally, personally deeply disturbed at this cowardly act, and the disgusting, reprehensible cancer I have seen in recent weeks in Rockland on least 13 occasions — such an uptick in vile acts of anti-Semitism that I spoke to my team."

Day said to protect the community and fight anti-Semitism they were "thinking outside the box" to make sure there were plenty of resources available and to give Jewish residents some reassurance that government, whether town or county, is doing whatever has to be done to deal with whatever issues they encounter.

Brosnan also praised the courage of the congregants at Rabbi Rottenberg's shul. "They fought back," he said. "They didn't have guns, they didn't have training. They threw furniture at this guy.

"You have to look this evil in the face. You have to step up," he said. "If you see something, say something. I would add, 'do something.' And it works. This guy fled like the coward he was in the face of elderly congregants —some of them —who were armed with nothing more than pieces of furniture."

He also said he had great faith in the men and women of law enforcement, state local and federal, who were doing the investigating.

Saying that his firm would keep a very very close eye on social media, Brosnan introduced one member of his team, Brian Paarmann, who headed the FBI's anti-terrorist task force in New York City before his retirement.

Paarmann said domestic terrorists are radicalized and mobilized through social media.

He and Brosnan predicted that facts about motivation would come out when the investigation was done, that no one would randomly get in a personal vehicle and drive south to a personal building, go in and try to murder a number of people.

Saying that there was a lot of apprehension and a lot of fear in the community, Brosnan added, "It's our opinion that the most effective weapon against crime is cooperation and collaboration. we're happy to be a part of that effort."

SEE ALSO:

• In Wake Of Monsey Attack, U.S. Senators Offer Support
• Hudson Valley Attack Horrifies Local, State, National Leaders
• Rockland Attack Latest In Region's Series of Hate Crimes
• $10K Reward Offered Over Worshipper Stabbing In Rockland