On June 16, the Kew Gardens Synagogue social hall filled with mindful area residents for a symposium with leading New York Police Department brass entitled, Dialogue with the NYPD on Antisemitism in Our Community. Rabbi Daniel Pollack, Clergy Liaison for the 102nd Pct., moderated the discussion, which included insights of daily ongoings conducted on behalf of Queens and more broadly New York Jewry from the distinguished panelists. The noted speakers were Assistant Chief Kevin Williams, Commanding Officer of Patrol Boro Queens South; Deputy Chief Richie Taylor, Commanding Officer of NYPD Community Affairs Outreach Division; Deputy Inspector Jeremy Kivlin, Commanding Officer of 102 Precinct; and Sergeant Jesse Ankele alongside an attorney from NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force. As guests entered, Mark Davidovitch, a neighborhood Queens Shmira member, joined NYPD officers in providing public safety.
“I’m scared. I’m scared of the subway. I’m scared to go on a train when I see that somebody can say, ‘All Zionists, you better get off now!’ I can be on that train,” declared a terrified attendee.
“I was very concerned, and I said there is a fine line between freedom of speech and hate speech that’s a crime,” expressed Deputy Chief Taylor, who wasted no time phoning Michael Gerber, Deputy Commissioner of Legal Matters; Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny; and Chief of Transit Michael Kemper as the question was posed to the panel. “The mayor says it best: ‘As a police department, the city will always protect freedom of speech, but hate speech is not welcome in New York City.’ The mayor means it. But, as much as the mayor says that hate speech is not welcome in New York City, according to the First Amendment of the Constitution, hates speech is generally protected speech.”
Noting that this instance was a crime, Taylor announced that the man was being “sought for the crime of attempted coercion in the second degree.” The morning following the program, Chief Kemper released a “Wanted” flier and, thanks to StopAntisemitism.org, the man was quickly identified as Anas (Ahmad) Saleh, a Weill Cornell Medicine Rhee Lab technician. The NYPD requests witnesses to any suspicious incident, especially those involving Saleh, call Crimestoppers at 800-577-8477 to ensure a successful prosecution.
Another participant exclaimed, “I’m scared when I see at the Nova Exhibit that they are screaming, ‘Death to Israel; death to America!’
Taylor, who attended the exhibit on its first day, related that the circumstances described were “horrific,” and that an arrest for endangerment was made for the person that lit flares, and others were sought. “In this country, what makes it great is the right to freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion, protected by the freedom of press.” Like in that instance, if vehicular and pedestrian traffic remain unobstructed, and without the use of a bullhorn or other amplified device, then a permit would not be required and while not welcome, such assemblies are legal. “It sounds awful, but it’s lawful.”
Deputy Chief Taylor detailed challenges for the Jewish community stemming from Washington and the New York State legislature, mentioning, “It is tough times for law enforcement.” As a former member of Hatzolah of Queens and Great Neck, notably responding as one of the first EMTs on 9/11, Taylor recognized their continued NYPD partnership. Taylor spoke of the recent handful of Lag BaOmer hadlakahs that he attended in conjunction with Queens Shmira, expressing that “a lot goes into making them happen.” He also echoed the mayor’s frustration on legislation that was passed to hurt or hinder policy. “It is just incredible how we would hope that we have partners in government helping and supporting us, and if they are not going to do that, at least be neutral.”
Regarding naysayers within Taylor’s circle of the historic and successful Israel on Fifth march in Manhattan who asked, “How can you do it?” the collective response from the mayoral administration was “How could we not? How can we not be there to protect the good people in the city who want to celebrate something that’s celebrated or over 50 years?” Taylor called the community partnership at the NYPD a role model for police departments worldwide saying that when the city’s myriads of communities unite in the understanding “that an attack on one community is really an attack on every community.”
On Dep. Insp. Kivlin’s first day in office, his first meeting at the precinct was with Rabbi Pollack, who shared potential problems and dangers that may arise within the precinct’s coverage area. Kivlin, then a Captain, took the concerns to heart and pledged to hold crimes effecting the Jewish community in high regard as he worked diligently to protect our sacred institutions. “I believe I have done that,” he said, adding, “Not everything is going to be perfect; there are going to be some crimes here and there.”
Kivlin highlighted consistent communication with the department’s intelligence community and their use of investigative tools to provide intel that has been disseminated to the community on a near-daily basis as necessary, often through phone conversations with local rabbinical figureheads. The CO admitted, “Sometimes that intelligence is a little bit more severe than others.” Kivlin spoke of immediate post-October 7 measures taken, like having officers stationed 24/7 at “fixed posts at almost all the synagogues,” and engaging with community members. Kivlin pointed to two instances of swastikas found along a nature trail in Forest Park and on a chalkboard at Richmond Hill High School.
Overall, crime in the precinct was down 15% for the year, with 86 incidents, 15 fewer than last year. However, an increase was noticed in grand larceny scams like when one receives a call demanding funds for the release of an incarcerated loved one, or when a thief intercepts a check from the mail, then washes and cashes it for a larger amount. Car thefts are down to 19, versus 25 the prior year.
Twety-three-year NYPD veteran Sergeant Jesse Ankele from the Hate Crimes Task Force at the Detective Bureau explained how a federal pay grant has enabled his office to hire a specialized attorney knowledgeable in deciding what legally constitutes hate so cases can be aggressively prosecuted, and that his division constitutes 24 officers bearing the rank of Captain and above who have mainly worked on precinct detective squads on cases ranging from robberies to homicides. Ankele observed that these “heinous crimes go to the very core of who we are as people, whether it is our religious beliefs, ethnicity, or whatever protected class that has been attacked.” Although technically not part of the Intelligence Bureau, Ankele’s team maintains “a very close partnership” assessing political events overseas potentially impacting our situation, and “hand-in-hand” on many cases, sparing no resource. He noted that like the commanding officer, the Neighborhood Coordination Officers, community affairs officers, and crime prevention officers “are all accessible,” stating, “It has really become clear our secret and most potent weapon against these state crimes is you all out there as our eyes and ears.” To this end, content recorded by eyewitnesses is used to inform the public of perpetrators’ identities. The hate crime statute upgrades the level of severity typically by one degree of any crime; thus, a misdemeanor, third degree, simply assault in which the victime sustained some physical injury becomes a felony.
Assist. Chief Williams, whose personal attendance was significant related that each of the city’s 77 precincts, has a dedicated crime prevention officer available to assess and provide recommendations for security risks at houses of worship and businesses.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
