jews d

in
the

implemented, including the addition
of personnel, equipment, cameras,
access controls (requiring people
to be buzzed in to buildings), train-
ing, drills and more. In its 2016-2017
annual report, Federation provided
an overview of community security
initiatives saying security has become
a “growing concern.” The report goes
on to say, “Jewish institutions gener-
ally are targeted more frequently for
hate crimes than any other group.”
The report outlines the following
steps taken at Jewish community
campuses and day schools, including
Farber Hebrew Day School, Frankel
Jewish Academy, Hillel Day School,
Yeshiva Beth Yehudah, Yeshiva
Gedolah and Yeshivas Darchei Torah:
“The Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit started its com-
munity security program in 2006, cre-
ating a presence at the Jewish com-
munity campuses in West Bloomfield

Securing Schools
& Synagogues

Local security
leaders ‘at a state
of readiness’
following school,
church shootings.

ROBIN SCHWARTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

TOP: Community leaders gathered for a
crisis training seminar sponsored by the
Security Leaders Coalition.

22

March 1 • 2018

jn

W

hen a gunman armed
with a semiautomatic
AR-15 assault rifle shot
and killed 17 people and wounded 14
others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas
High School in Parkland, Fla., on
Feb. 14, Gary
Sikorski, director
of communitywide
security for the
Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan
Detroit, watched
events unfold
through the lens of
Gary Sikorski
someone who has
dedicated his life
and career to public safety. Sikorski
was deputy chief of the Westland
Police Department for nearly 26 years
before he took on the role of develop-
ing, implementing and maintaining
security processes, practices and pol-
icies for Federation and more than a
dozen partner agencies.
“Sadly, tragedies like this remind us
why we do what we do,” Sikorski said.
“We are always at a state of readi-
ness.”
Since Sikorski joined Federation
in 2008, various measures have been

and Oak Park,” the annual report
states. “The Federation adopted a
three-point plan, which increased
training and communication about
security for children, faculty and
parents at all Jewish day schools;
approved a series of grants to pay
for equipment and technology; and
hired and deployed armed security
officers at each of the day schools
and at Tamarack Camps.”
Sikorski says the Detroit
Federation and three others are beta
testing a new report/incident man-
agement system similar to the system
police officers use. It enables security
leaders to more quickly and easily
share information about suspects
who may be moving from city to city.
The system could be implemented
nationwide.
“We’re always looking to reassess
what we’re doing and how we’re
doing things,” Sikorski says. “We
monitor and make adjustments
accordingly.”

SECURITY LEADERS GATHER

Just four days before the Florida
school shooting, Sikorski joined
dozens of security leaders from dif-
ferent faith-based groups at Second

Ebenezer Church in Detroit for a
crisis training seminar sponsored
by the Security Leaders Coalition.
Founded in 2015, the nonprofit
organization consists of more than
50 churches, synagogues and oth-
ers across southeast Michigan.
The group’s mission is to promote
information sharing, training and
networking opportunities with law
enforcement, first responders and
security professionals.
“It’s a way for us to learn from
each other,” says Jerry Eizen, security
head for Young Israel of Oak Park.
He joined the coalition in November
2017. “It’s sad that it’s needed any-
where — whether it’s a house of
worship or a school or office building
— but the fact is, it’s needed.”
Participants heard from two
keynote speakers, Carl Chinn of
Colorado and Brian Webb of Atlanta.
In 1996, Chinn was held hostage by
a gunman at Focus on the Family
church in Colorado. About a decade
later, he was a first responder dur-
ing a deadly shooting at New Life
Church in Colorado. He spoke about
his firsthand experiences and lessons
learned. Webb instructs domestic
and foreign governments, interna-
tional corporations and others on
crisis management and disaster
planning. Participants received a
response plan template to customize
for their own use.
“We are sickened by the head-
lines and the endless heartbreak,”
says Ray Washington, a spokes-
person for the Security Leaders
Coalition. “No one wants to think it
could happen to them or someone
they know and love, but the sad
truth is, it can.”
So, what can a synagogue member,
a parent, or any member of the com-
munity do? Sikorski says the familiar
expression, “if you see something, say
something” still applies.
“Be aware of your surroundings
and don’t be afraid to speak up,”
he says. “If you see something that
might be out of place or unusual,
whether it’s a person or a package or
a door ajar — don’t brush it off like
it’s nothing. It’s OK to be wrong. Law
enforcement and security profession-
als want you to report something
that doesn’t seem right.”
Along with “say” something, he
says people should also “do” some-
thing.
“Get CPR/AED-certified. Attend
a free Department of Homeland
Security ‘Stop The Bleed’ training
program,” Sikorski adds. “Our goal
is to have a community of ‘first
responders.’” •

To learn more about free ‘Stop the Bleed’
training programs, visit bleedingcontrol.org.
For more information on the Security Leaders
Coalition, visit securityleaderscoalition.org.