6 | DECEMBER 29 • 2022 

1942 - 2022

Covering and Connecting 
Jewish Detroit Every Week

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people of greater Detroit and beyond, and the State of Israel.

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Detroit Jewish community, reflecting the diverse views and interests of the Jewish community while advancing the 
morale and spirit of the community and advocating Jewish unity, identity and continuity.

DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
32255 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 205,
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
248-354-6060
thejewishnews.com

 
 
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The Detroit Jewish 
News Foundation

| Board of Directors:
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 Secretary: Robin Axelrod
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 Board members: Larry Jackier, 
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 Founding Publisher 
 Philip Slomovitz, of blessed memory

 
 
 
 

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PURELY COMMENTARY

guest column
Community Security is Taken Seriously
M

uch has been written about 
the antisemitic incident that 
occurred at Temple Beth El on 
Dec. 2. As both a Bloomfield Township 
Trustee and a Board member of Jewish 
Community Security Inc. (JCSI), and 
formerly a board member of Michigan 
ADL, I can provide a 
different perspective on the 
incident. 
In the guest column “A 
Tour de Force” (Dec. 15), 
the author commends 
the community for “the 
strong, fearless and united 
front” on “calls, texts, 
emails and social media platforms.” 
While I agree that our community 
must share threat information, the 
unintended consequence is the spread 
of misinformation that occurs when 
the proverbial game of “telephone” is 
amplified by social media.
When I received my first phone call at 
about 10 a.m., I was told that a man hurled 
epithets and made direct threats toward 

the families in the parking lot, including 
using his vehicle as a weapon — an 
already exaggerated story. This narrative 
continued to compound all day, which 
led to many false and inaccurate reports 
made to police. The hysteria caused by 
misinformation initially slowed the police 
response as they had to decipher which 
reports were consistent with the video 
footage received from the temple and 
ultimately the perpetrator’s own video. 
As difficult as it may be, we must 
balance the need for timely information 
with the need for accuracy.
I also want to correct the record 
regarding the author’s statement that 
“no immediate action seemed to be 
taking place.” Law enforcement does not 
disseminate its activities in real-time, 
which is understandably frustrating 
especially in light of the heinous videos 
being posted by the suspect and the 
misinformation going around.
Within two minutes of the initial 
call from temple security, officers were 
on-scene interviewing witnesses while 

other officers executed a traffic stop to 
identify the suspect. Simultaneously, 
calls were made to both the Dearborn 
Police and FBI to gather information 
about him. Detectives immediately began 
investigating and every available resource 
was brought to bear. 
As a precaution, surveillance was 
attached to the suspect from shortly after 
he left the temple until the moment he was 
taken into custody. He was not allowed to 
become a threat anywhere else.
In just 12 hours, a full report was 
submitted to the prosecutor and, by 
Sunday morning, her office issued 
charges for two felonies. Upon our 
recommendation, Dearborn Police took 
the suspect into protective custody early 
on Saturday morning and held him until 
Bloomfield Township officers formally 
arrested him on Sunday.
The Bloomfield Township Police took 
the incident extremely seriously and 
devoted hundreds of man-hours to the 
case, regularly communicating with JCSI, 
myself and other Township leadership. 

Michael 
Schostak

