Palm Beach Gardens Police Chief Honored By Chabad Men’s Club

On Thursday, April 11, 2024, the Men’s Club of Chabad of Palm Beach Gardens sponsored lunch for the entire Palm Beach Gardens Police Department. Members of the Men’s Club arrived at the Police Department to honor the newly installed Police Chief of Palm Beach Gardens, Dominick Pape. 

The Community Room of the PBG Police Department was standing room only as the Police Chief Pape and Assistant Police Chief Marty Bechtel warmly welcomed the Men’s Club members. Chabad’s Chairman Marc Linksy opened the event with words of greeting and called up Rabbi Dovid Vigler to make a special presentation to the newly installed Police Chief. Rabbi Vigler thanked the chief for their care and concern for all the members of the Jewish Community. He then presented the Chief with a special gift—a book entitled “Wisdom to Heal the Earth,” which contains hundreds of meditations based on the wisdom of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneersohn. 

In the inscription, Rabbi Vigler had written: 

“In CIA headquarters, there is a sign that reads “Every day is Sept. 12.” It’s placed there as a reminder to all who work there that what they felt right after the attacks of September 11 2001—the sense of outrage and purpose, of taking nothing for granted—had to be the mindset with which they arrived to work every day. 

Today, we’d like to declare that “Everyday is October 8th,” as we realise that freedom isn’t free and that we have to work hard to perpetuate the support for Israel and the Jewish People that the world felt on the day after the horrific attacks of October 7th, 2023. Today, we bless you with success in maintaining law and order throughout all of Palm Beach Gardens.”

Chief Pape then ascended to the podium to thank the Men’s Club for their support of the PBGPD. He told them about his recent visit to Israel with a delegation of leaders of other American Police Departments, where they expressed solidarity for Israel and exchanged best practices with the Israeli law enforcement agencies. 

He spoke about his visit to “IWI,” Israel’s Weapons Industry, where was deeply impressed with the weapons they are building for the future of warfare and self defense. The Chief then showed the Mens Club a special coin that he was gifted by the Magen David Adom, Israel’s Ambulance Corps. The Chief then surprised the Mens Club by gifting each attendee with a special commemorative Medal from the PBG Police Department. 

After lunch, the Mens Club was given a VIP tour of the Police Headquarters, curated by the Chief himself. They were shown special weapons used by the PBG Swat Team and Police Force including special weapons designed to deescalate crime.  They were then given a tour of the PBG Emergency Operations Center designed to withstand a Category 5 Hurricane while serving as a dispatch and command center for most of northern Palm Beach County. There they were given a tour of the 911 call center where they learned that 911 can be contracted even via text message. The dispatchers told us that most calls are from people calling in error or from an Iphone falsely reporting a fall when ladies throw their handbags—with their phones inside— into the backseat of the car.

When asked how they would respond to Pro-Hamas protests in our city, the Chief and his team promised us that they have zero tolerance for such aggressive behaviors and that such protests would quickly be arrested and jailed.

In his closing remarks, the Chief told the large crowd about the latest technology that the PBGPD are using including license plate reader cameras in various spots in the city  and drones on every squad- for quick and efficient surveillance of all emergencies. 

The event was a very warm and personal bonding experience between the Jewish Community and the leader’s local law enforcement showing mutual gratitude, respect and appreciation and paving the way for a very long and symbiotic partnership.