views

R

ecently, I had the privilege 
of representing Wayne State 
University and the greater 
Midtown area as a member of the 
Law Enforcement/Federation Security 
Detroit delegation. Our 
group of six joined 
other delegations in 
Israel hailing from 
Cleveland, Cincinnati 
and Pittsburgh. 
Funded by the Israel 
Ministry of Diaspora 
Affairs, the seven-
day training regimen 
proved to be one of the most intense 
and eye-opening immersion activities 
that I have experienced during my 
42-year law enforcement career.
The daily 10-hour training covered a 
wide swath of topics, including coping 
with terrorism threats, anti-Semitism 
as a global terror threat, connection 
between community and security/
emergency forces, terror in the State of 
Israel from the perspective of a senior 
commander in the field, Judaism in 
the diaspora, simulation exercises 
and numerous other critical points of 
discussion. 
We participated in several facility 
tours, including the Police Control 
Center for Jerusalem (Old City) and 
a police security training center. I was 
particularly moved by briefings from a 
Pittsburgh Police Department SWAT 
commander and a Jewish Federation 
security director regarding the Tree of 
Life synagogue shooting. 
There were numerous lessons 
learned and other takeaways that 
emerged from the training sessions. 
Overall, I developed a deeper 
understanding of how to employ 
situational awareness — being aware of 
our surroundings throughout the day 
and watchful of any warning signs.
I am reminded of a particularly 
gruesome and heartbreaking story 
regarding a type of suicide bombing. 
Terrorists have employed the horrific 
practice of strapping a bomb around 
a child in a stroller and then leaving 
the stroller unattended. Unsuspecting 

bystanders approach the child to offer 
assistance; then the bomb is detonated, 
killing the child and several onlookers. 
Also included as part of the 
situational awareness training are the 
targets of opportunity, the destinations 
and venues that are popular for 
terrorists to practice their deadly 
maneuvers. In Israel, buses, light-rail 
stops and the entry gates to the Old 
City of Jerusalem are prime targets. 
These locations have been singled out 
for knife attacks, vehicular attacks and 
the use of improvised explosives.
Israel’
s leadership, military, law 
enforcement agencies and citizens 
represent an international model for 
preventing and battling the challenges 
of terrorism. Israel, as a nation, is 
top tier in terms of prevention and 
overall security. Other nations around 
the globe can learn from Israel’
s law 
enforcement practices and overall 
preparedness of the citizens. 
Poring over my notes on the long 
flight home, I was reminded of the 
importance of preparedness and 
situational awareness — not just in 
Israel, but also globally and locally.
At Wayne State University, the safety 

of our students and staff has always 
been a priority, a charge that our police 
department (WSUPD) focuses on 24/7. 
The reach of WSUPD includes not 
only the campus, but also the greater 
Midtown Detroit area — all neighbors 
and members of our community. 
Our highly trained officers engage 
the community, patrol campus and 
surrounding areas, offer important 
safety resources and respond to 
emergencies. WSUPD plays a vital role 
in making Wayne State a welcoming 
home, school and workplace for 
thousands of people.
It is gratifying that Israel and the 
United States continue to share law 
enforcement strategies in the fight 
against terrorism. The cooperative 
spirit that we experienced as part of 
the Detroit delegation in Israel was 
outstanding. 
I am grateful to all of the parties, 
in particular the Jewish Federation of 
Metropolitan Detroit, for their efforts 
in making the training available. ■

Anthony Holt is the Wayne State University Chief 
of Police.

8 June 20 • 2019
jn

guest column

Bring Security Strategies
From Israel to Wayne State

Anthony Holt

Not Now and I follow “Breaking the 
Silence” and “Cachol Levan” in Israel.
 The people I have met from these 
groups love Israel with all their heart and 
are worried as Jews about the path that 
Israel is taking. We are not anti-Israel as 
the writer thinks just because we oppose 
the Israeli government.
 I lived in Israel for 17 years and lost 
friends in the conflicts. It saddens me 
that Israel (where I visit every three 
years) is moving away from the Jewish 
principles that have governed us for 
more than 3,000 years.
 Maybe instead of unity, we, as Jews, 
should look into our hearts and ask our-
selves if the State of Israel is living up to 
the Jewish principles as we know them.

Mark Phillips

Oak Park

I was hopeful at first about Mr. 
Ginsburg’
s “call for Jewish unity.
” I 
thought he’
d take to task the Jews who 
call other Jews “self-hating” just because 
they have a different opinion on Israeli 
politics. 
Then I got to the part where he 
talks about “radical Muslim women.
” 
American citizens duly elected to the 
House of Representatives pose a greater 
threat to Jews than white supremacist 
militias shouting, “Jew will not replace 
us” and entering synagogues with mili-
tary weaponry? Really?
But what really puzzles me is his claim 
that the Democratic Party can no longer 
be relied upon to support “Jewish caus-
es.
” When I think of “Jewish causes,
” I 
think of clean air and water, feeding the 
poor, Social Security, Medicare, public 
education, literacy, Head Start, health 
care, equal rights, a living wage, FOIA, 
National Endowment for the Arts … and 
so many more. 
And who is actively working to 
destroy these hard-won programs and 
values? It’
s certainly not the Democratic 
Party. Saying “I love Israel” every 
five minutes does not make up for 
Republican attacks on the social values 
that have made the U.S. a safe home for 
Jews until recently.

Cynthia Brody

Beverly Hills 

continued from page 6

CORRECTION:

In “Organic Growth,” page 12, June 6, 
the name of the owner of Ca 
nine to 
Five is Liz Blondy.

Deputy Chief Curt Lawson, West Bloomfield Police Department; Lt. Russ Yeiser, Oakland County 

Sheriff’
s Department; Wayne State University Police Chief Anthony Holt; Steve Cooper, director, 

Oak Park Public Safety; Capt. Dan Edwards, Bloomfield Hills Township Police Department; Gary 

Sikorski, security director, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.

