Nassau Police to Increase Patrols Following Bomb Threats to Jewish Community Centers

Nassau County officials announced on Tuesday they will be increasing police patrols at Jewish Community Centers and house of worships after several bomb threats have been reported nationwide.

Most recently, on Monday the Mid-Island Y Jewish community center in Plainview was evacuated after a call came in for a "public safety device" found in the area and last month a threat was made to the Barry and Florence Friedberg J community center in Oceanside

Since December, Nassau Police has intensified patrols around temples, JCCs and other religious institutions in response to a wave of bomb threats nationwide.

Over 100 threats have been made nationwide, including those in the states of California, Colorado, Illinois and Utah, police said.

On Tuesday, Nassau Executive Edward P. Mangano and Acting Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter joined with Mindy Perlmutter, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island (JCRC-LI), Arthur Katz, Senior Ambassador of the JCRC-LI, and Police Chaplain Rabbi Dov Schwartz to announce the continuation of intensified police patrols at JCCs and houses of worship.

According to Mangano, Nassau Police's regular marked patrols, as well as plain clothes officers, Mounted Unit, K-9 Unit, Bureau of Special Operations and the Criminal Intelligence Rapid Response Team are assigned to different locations to protect residents.

In addition, police are also monitoring social media as well as coordinating efforts with Federal, State and local authorities.

"We remind residents to be vigilant and to call the police if something seems suspicious," Mangano said. "Remember, if you See Something, Say Something!”

Public safety initiatives have been enhanced and the Mangano administration is bolstering the police force with increased police patrols, 911 operators, Ambulance Medical Technicians and the formation of special units.

A few months ago, Mangano and the police launched a new state-of-the-art school security program to help save countless lives in the event of an active shooter. In the coming months, this app-based program will be offered to JCCs and houses of worship.