Visible patrols, intelligence gathering to be utilized to safeguard houses of worship
Westchester County Police and its law enforcement partners will be conducting increased patrols around houses of worship and religious gatherings over the next two months as members of the community observe holy days during Ramadan, Passover, Lent and Easter.
The County Police and all law enforcement agencies within Counter-Terrorism Zone 3 are once again participating in Operation Safeguard, which includes an increased police presence around religious institutions and mass gatherings for religious observances. CTZ-3 comprises Westchester and Putnam counties.
“As is customary during all major religious and secular holidays, law enforcement in Westchester will be on heightened alert,” County Executive Ken Jenkins said. “We also encourage the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to their local police department.”
Public Safety Commissioner Terrance Raynor said that while there are no known specific or credible threats at this time, the law enforcement community is taking proactive measures out of an abundance of caution.
In addition to expanded patrols, Raynor said the County Police and its municipal police partners will be monitoring social media and reviewing intelligence information provided by federal and state agencies about any potential threats to Westchester or its religious institutions. This information will be shared through the multi-agency Real Time Crime intelligence center, which is housed at County Police headquarters in Hawthorne.
Jenkins said, “Westchester County is proud of its diverse faith communities. We remain committed to ensuring that every resident can observe their traditions in peace and without fear.”
