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.