Cuomo directs NYS Police to increase patrols in Jewish neighborhoods

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is directing New York State Police to increase patrols in downstate Jewish neighborhoods after anti-Semitic attacks in New York and other parts of the country.

“Anti-Semitic violence and intimidation is antithetical to the promise and purpose of New York State, and we will not tolerate it in any form,” Cuomo said Monday. “In the wake of the unacceptable recent increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes nationwide, I am proactively deploying State Troopers to provide security at Jewish religious, educational, and community facilities. Hate has no place in our state, and we will continue to do everything in our power to help ensure Jewish New Yorkers — and New Yorkers of all faiths — have the peace, safety, and security they deserve.”

State Troopers will increase patrols at synagogues, schools and other Jewish community facilities in New York City, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Nassau and Suffolk Counties, including during the Jewish Sabbath. Police will also conduct outreach to Jewish communities and address any security concerns in the wake of tensions over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

According to ABC, a 29-year-old Jewish man was beaten by a group of people in Times Square on Thursday, during dueling protests over Israel and Hamas. One suspect has been arrested and charged with assault as a hate crime, gang assault, menacing, aggravated harassment as a hate crime and criminal possession of a weapon; the group, which had as many as five other suspects, allegedly punched, kicked, pepper sprayed and hit the victim with crutches while making anti-Semitic statements

The Journal News reports the patrols are being welcomed in the Hudson Valley, where Grafton Thomas is accused of killing a man and injuring others during a Hanukkah party at a rabbi’s home in December 2019.

“We appreciate the governor’s efforts with this issue,” Ramapo Town Supervisor Michael Specht told the newspaper. “We in Ramapo are always sensitive about this issue — we had the horrible attack on Hanukkah in 2019. We appreciate the support we had then from the state police and the governor and we appreciate it now.”

Rabbi Rafi Rank, of the Midway Jewish Center in Syosset, told News 12 that he thinks the police’s added presence will help prevent possible hate crimes.

The governor’s office says anyone who has experienced bias-motivated threats, harassment or discrimination can call the state’s toll free hotline at 1-888-392-3644, or text “HATE” to 81336. If you need to report a crime or fear for your safety, please call 911 immediately.