Schools Meet with Counter-Terror Experts

Representatives from many of the Crown Heights Jewish schools met this afternoon with members of the NYPD’s counter-terrorism division in order to discuss safety and security matters.

Inspector George Fitzgibbon, the commanding officer of the 71st Precinct, opened the meeting by thanking everyone for taking time out of their busy schedules to attend the meeting. “I have 32 schools in my precinct and not enough officers to place a car outside every single one of them,” he said.

“In today’s climate, I have to worry that we may be a target,” said Fitzgibbbon, stressing that there are no current credible threats. “A few weeks ago there was an incident which I was informed about with two Middle Eastern looking people checking out a school, and frankly that scares me.

“I hope that it is never going to happen here, and with us working together we can help ensure that it doesn’t,” he said, adding that in an imperfect world he will try and make it as perfect as it can be.

Fitzgibbon then added, “in Crown Heights I have something that I have not had in any of my previous two commands, I have the neighborhood’s volunteer patrol Shomrim, which is worth so much. What do they get out of it? Probably nothing except headaches, but here in 71 I take care of them.”

Inspector Fitzgibbon then introduced the Brooklyn South Counter-Terrorism Inspector Phil Van Gostein to speak about security measures and actions schools can take to help ensure the safety of their students and staff.

“Since Mayor Bloomberg left office, we have foiled 18 terror plots,” Inspector Van Goestein began. “We do not have any specific credible threats, but we continually live under that one constant threat of terror and must always be at our top vigilance.”

The inspector went on to detail many no-cost measures that schools can implement immediately, such as using a single entrance and properly securing it, running active shooter drills and signing up for a program called NYPD SHIELD, which is an information sharing mechanism for schools.

Querying the school representatives, he asked what would be their reaction in specific incidents, “would you shelter in place or flee?” Going on to discuss the reasons to do which.

He then asked that they be invited into school to do site surveys and assesments.

Inspector Van Goestein brought up the stabbing and shooting incident which occurred inside 770 last year, “what was the individual doing inside the synagogue? Why weren’t we called?” He asked, adding that the man had previously come to 770 and no one called then either.

“We need the public to pay attention and to do something about it, this would have been the perfect 911 call,” he said. “In Israel, if someone sees a suspicious package, everyone runs and calls the police; I know because we trained with them and I have seen it firsthand.”

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5 Comments

  • Refresher Courses

    Send everyone who was staring at their smartphones during the meeting to two refresher courses: (1) derech eretz and (2) safety and security matters in schools.

  • Question

    Like Inspector Van Goestein I have another daring question:

    Why is it that in one school there is only one person that knows how to do the emergency exit drill and she doesn’t teach anybody else in school how to do this drill?

    Last year there was a real fire and smoke situation and there was total pandemonium in school, nobody knew what to do, and it was real miracle that nobody got seriously hurt as a result, only because that individual was absent for whatever reason but she won’t allow anybody else to learn this drill so they will know what to do in case of emergency.

    Since then nothing changed.

    Who is responsible for such craziness?

  • AGREE with # 1

    it was the first thing that struck me as well when i saw the pics CHILUL HASHEM – and making it for the police not to take the subject of training serious!!!!!

    “If they don’t care – why should we”???

    (I am sure it was an emergency..LOL)

    ppl need to realize in these days ALL is recorded and broadcasted…

    DUD! its not a day off … lives are at stake so pay attention

    MBA

  • Oholei Torah??!!

    of such a large administration – why couldn’t they send even one representative?? – R’ SHolom Rosenfeld, R’ Tzvi Hirsch Roenfeld. R’ Nosson Blumes R’ Hershel Lustig, R’ Mordechais Bronsstein, or any of the 4 principals or 4 vice principals??
    Not one could find the time to show up and hear what they have to say??