If you see something, say something

I am often asked by employees and volunteers in the Jewish community about community safety. The harsh reality is there can be no guarantee that something bad won’t happen.  

Setting aside political issues that you and I can’t solve overnight like gun control, immigration, and mental health care, there is something we can all do right now. The big push by federal, state and local law enforcement is public awareness or as it has been promoted, "see something, say something.” To paraphrase one Department of Homeland Security official on a recent intelligence briefing with Federation security directors, one of our greatest defenses for the homeland is a vigilant public. That’s our greatest force multiplier. 

In Israel this has been a way of life for generations. Despite being a highly politically polarized society, when it comes to day to day safety and security, Israelis set aside political differences and focus on what is important in the moment. That is awareness and vigilance and preserving a way of life. Unfortunately, we in the United States now must learn to live this way.

In this new normal, terrorism occurs and everyone is a potential target. Whether it be a church, a movie theater, an army base, or a holiday party, everyone is vulnerable. While we may not be immune, we are certainly not helpless.  In the attacks that took place at the aforementioned locations, something was missed.  In all of these cases there was opportunity to detect pre-planning.  Whether it was an illegal gun purchase, someone exiting a movie theater from an emergency exit, an ignored threat, or suspicious activity in a residential area late at night, a simple call may have prevented these tragedies from occurring. This raises the question, what constitutes suspicious behavior and how does one report it? 

The following may be indicators of suspicious behaviors: a person hauling property, someone going door to door in an office building or residential area, anyone forcing their way into locked property, someone sitting in a parked car casing out an area, an individual photographing near your facility, the same vehicle or pedestrian appearing at different times of the day, strange activity on social media sites connected to your facility, someone eliciting detailed information regarding hours of operation, or ploys to gain intelligence regarding how your organization responds to incidents. While some of these behaviors can be innocuous, it’s best to report.

First and foremost, dial 911. If you’re asking yourself if calling 911 is a good idea for what feels like a non-emergency, the answer is YES, YES, YES – you can never go wrong.  But if you can’t get past that hurdle, there are a few other options. You can call the local police non-emergency number, the Southeastern Wisconsin Threat Analysis Center, or fill out a WiWatch report online at WiWatch.org. In the event that you ever need to report suspicious or criminal activity that may have an impact on our Jewish community, follow up with a phone call or email to the Milwaukee Jewish Federation at 414-390-5700 or AriF@MilwaukeeJewish.org.

It is our collective responsibility to be more aware of our surroundings – as I always tell my children, "eyes up, cell phones down.” A more aware, vigilant public is a safer public. If you see something, say something.

Ari Friedman is director of security & community properties for Milwaukee Jewish Federation.

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·         Call 911 or the Southeastern Wisconsin Threat Analysis Center at 1-877-WI-WATCH.

·         Fill out a WiWatch report online at WiWatch.org.

·         For suspicious behavior affecting the Jewish community, call the Milwaukee Jewish Federation at 414-390-5700 or email AriF@MilwaukeeJewish.org