Homeland Security goes to church | Faith Matters

Updated on Nov 25, 2018 at 08:04 AM EST

A makeshift memorial stands outside the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh where 11 people killed in a mass shooting this month.
(Matt Rourke | Associated Press)



By Rev. Alexander Santora/For the Jersey Journal

A few months ago, a man walked up the main aisle of Our Lady of Grace Church, Hoboken, while a priest was preaching in the center aisle during the Sunday evening Mass, which attracts mostly young adults.

The man was overdressed, took a seat, and then exited the same way after the homily. Quite a few parishioners were spooked.

This prompted us to contact the Hoboken P.D., look at our evacuation procedures during Mass and talk to Mass-goers at all the Masses over several weekends about what we can do if there is a suspicious person in church.

At Hoboken/Weehawken Catholic deanery meetings, we discovered concern for church safety was widespread. And understandably so since in the last several years, there have been nine instances of murders in houses of worship around the country -- in five churches, one mosque, one Sikh temple and two synagogues, including last month's Pittsburgh Tree of Life, where 11 people were murdered.

People's fears are indeed heightened and they are aware "that it could occur anywhere," said Ehtasham Z. Chaudhry, a detective with the N.J. Office of Homeland Security and head of its Interfaith Council.

Chaudhry spoke this month before 15 clergy and staff of six Catholic churches in Hoboken, Weehawken and Jersey City as well as a rep from the archdiocesan property management office.

The purpose of his work, Chaudhry said, is to help houses of worship "prepare and prevent."

He shared a ton of resources, including a self-assessment tool for a house of worship and grant applications. Since the Pittsburgh murders, he said, more clergy and congregations are nervous and reaching out.

There is also active shooter training and supplemental security measures like putting up bollards on the property, installing security cameras and panic alarms, he said.




Mark Smith, standing, director of Homeland Security for the Hudson County Sheriff's Office, meets with Sheriff Frank X. Schillari. Hudson County Sheriff's Office

As the first Hudson County Sheriff's Office director of Homeland Security, Mark Smith, a retired police captain and the former mayor of Bayonne, invited Chaudhry to the meeting.

Smith had some practical advice.

He ticked a series of action points: hold an active shooter drill, allow the local public safety officers to survey the premises, train staff, engage parishioners as "eyes and ears," call the police is there is someone suspicious.

"It's better to call police and it turns out to be a false alarm, than not call," Smith said.




Also present at the meeting were Sheriff's Office Lt. Luigi DeCecco and Investigator Mark Santos, who are part of the county's SWAT and Rapid Response teams.

DeCecco alerted me to something I did wrong when I once escorted a suspicious-looking person from a service.

I should have called the police to let them handle it, DeCecco said, and I see his point.

See something, say something, but call the police do something.

The Rev. Alexander Santora is the pastor of Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph, 400 Willow Ave., Hoboken, 07030, FAX: 201-659-5833; Email: padrealex@yahoo.com; Twitter: @padrehoboken.

Details ...

Resources for houses of worship provided by Detective Ehtasham Z. Chaudhry, Operations Bureau, New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness ( njohsp.gov ), who can be reached at 609-588-2233 (office) or 609-902-8702 (cell).

https://www.njhomelandsecurity.gov/resources/

https://www.njhomelandsecurity.gov/faith-based-resources

https://www.njhomelandsecurity

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