Planning for safety

Local organizations take measures to ensure security

BETH OLSON
Staff Writer

With the looming possibility of war with Iraq and the national terrorist threat at level orange, many Americans are on edge about security.

And with the possibility of Jewish organizations being at higher risk as targets of terrorist activity, many Jewish organizations, including those in the Valley, are working to improve security and safety at their facilities.

The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix hosted a security meeting on Feb. 18 for leaders of local Jewish organizations. Participants were supplied with a variety of tips and resources from Cathy Wolf, director of the JCRC; Bill Straus, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League; and representatives of the Phoenix Police Department, Scottsdale Police Department and the Department of Public Safety.

"As Jewish community organizations, we should always be aware of security," Wolf said at the meeting.

Straus stated that having a plan is essential.

"Security is not just an umbrella you pull out when it's raining," he said. "Having an adequate security plan, an overall game plan, is necessary in the Jewish community to be sure and in the overall community. I think everyone's consciousness of how important security is has been elevated since 9/11."

In an interview, Straus said that overall the Jewish community is doing a "very good" job with security, but there are exceptions.

"There are some who still don't make security an issue, just like the general public," he said.

He recommends that when people visit Jewish institutions, they ask themselves, "Do I feel safe and secure when I go there?"

"If they go through a screening process, whether it's a locked door, or whatever, to get in, I'm sure they're going to feel much more secure than if the campus or synagogue is open to anybody," he explains.

Many local Jewish organizations utilize additional security measures, ranging from security guards and a police presence to locked doors and video surveillance.

Security screening at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus in Scottsdale has been moved outside the building, and a drop-off area for preschool pupils has been moved away from the building.

Straus also suggested limiting publicity for Jewish events, a national policy of the ADL.

"I think the security of (an) event should be an uppermost priority and in looking at various ways you can maximize security at your event, one of the things ADL has concluded - and I happen to agree completely - is keep the pre-publicity outside your immediate target audience to a minimum," Straus said.

At the Feb. 18 meeting, Straus encouraged organi-zations to keep their security plans to themselves.

"I wouldn't explain the details of your overall security plan to anybody outside of the immediate family, whether it's the work family, lay family or leadership," he said. "The fewer people who know about the security at your building, the better."

An obvious area of concern for parents is the safety of their children, particularly those in Jewish day schools.

All local Jewish day schools have beefed up security since Sept. 11, including the use of locked campuses and security guards at some facilities.

Recent recommendations by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that individuals have food and water on hand in case of emergency has led several schools to purchase those supplies, in addition to medical supplies. All day schools periodically update their emergency plans and maintain frequent contact with their local police departments. Because the day schools share facilities with synagogues and Jewish community centers, most have formed joint security and emergency plans, according to sources at the schools.

Although most school spokesmen declined to share the details of their emergency plans, citing security concerns, Detective Albert Ramirez of the Phoenix Police Department and Detective Sergeant Mark Clark of the Scottsdale Police Department offered several questions parents can ask at their child's school.

Does the school have an emergency plan?
What are the procedures for a lockdown?
Is there a telephone number for parents to use in case of an emergency?
Is there security on the grounds? What type?
Does the school provide walkie-talkies or radios to the staff?
Is there a code for the staff if a lockdown becomes necessary?
How will the school communicate with families if there is a crisis?
Does the school have adequate food and water if the children can't leave the building?
If it becomes necessary to leave the building, where will they take the children?

Clark said schools should have these plans in place for any emergency and not just terrorism. He also encour-aged parents to have a family plan with their children.

"It's not just incumbent on the schools and day care centers" to have a plan, he emphasized. "The parents have to plan, too, and hopefully in conjunction with what they expect from the school. How are the kids going to get home if you can't go get them? Communication is a big thing."

A common recommendation from local, state and federal agencies is that people keep their eyes open for suspicious people or activity.

"This is a time to be alert for anything that seems out of the ordinary," Straus said. "When people are going to their car, take a look at the route that they're going to their car (and) take a look around the car. When they're getting out of their car, particularly at night, take a look around. Anything suspicious needs to be reported immediately."

People are also cautioned not to try to rationalize away something that arouses initial apprehension.

"I'd much rather have the police over-called than under-called when it comes to security," Straus emphasized.

Ramirez cited a recent incident at a Valley syna-gogue when a suspicious person entered the grounds and began asking questions about the synagogue's op-eration. Administrators did not call the police for several hours, and by then it was too late to confront the individual.

"That should have been a 9-1-1 call," Ramirez said.

Clark also said people should call the local emer-gency number immediately when observing suspicious individuals or activity.

"If you're not sure, call 9-1-1. They'll tell you if you've called the wrong number," he explained.

For more information about individual or organization security, visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Web site at www.ready.gov; or visit the ADL's Web site at www. adl.org.

Contact the writer at beth_olson@jewishaz.com.

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