New online form created to report threats, incidents and any suspicious activity

New online form created to report threats, incidents and any suspicious activity

(January  18, 2023) –JHV Houston Federation partners with Secure Community Network
to ensure timely, accurate response to protect Jewish community

The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston has partnered with more than 30 other Jewish Federations and the Secure Community Network to launch a new, standardized online form for the public to report threats, incidents and suspicious activity related to Jewish organizations, facilities or community members.

SCN is the official safety and security organization for the Jewish community in North America. The form is available on the Federation’s website at houstonjewish.org/security .

“Our new online reporting form is one of the many ways the Federation is working to protect the Jewish community,” said Houston Federation CEO Renée Wizig-Barrios. “Together with the Secure Community Network, we urge everyone to report anything suspicious or concerning so the appropriate action can be taken.”

Information reported through the form is sent immediately to the Federation’s security professionals and the 24-hour Duty Desk in SCN’s National Jewish Security Operations Command Center.

At the Command Center, SCN’s team of intelligence analysts are available to support local Federation security initiatives using intelligence and information-sharing best practices to determine what people or facilities may be at risk, as well as what next steps to take.

Credible threats are referred to local, state and federal law-enforcement agencies and Jewish facility leaders, as needed.

“This is the first nationally standardized incident-reporting effort that ties together local Federation security initiatives and SCN as a national partner, ensuring that wherever someone is, there can be timely, consistent and accurate reporting of threats, incidents and suspicious activity,” said SCN national director and CEO Michael Masters. “This is critical to keeping the Jewish community safe.”

The new form can be used to report antisemitic incidents, including in-person assaults or threats; suspicious persons or activity; property damage or vandalism; threatening or suspicious phone calls, text messages or social media; suspicious packages or letters; spam and phishing emails; threatening flyers; or other similar incidents of concern to the Jewish community. Reports may be made anonymously.

“The new reporting system helps us build on the work that I am already doing in the field,” said Al Tribble, Houston Federation Community Security director. “Not only are we able to identify incidents, but we’re poised to respond directly to those impacted and quickly disseminate lead-developing intelligence to local, state and federal law-enforcement partners, as needed.”

This form is a key part of the Federation’s security effort and will allow SCN to better aggregate and collect information, providing more comprehensive and reliable data to partners in the Jewish community and in law enforcement.

The form was developed with input from key information-sharing, law enforcement and public-safety partners, as well as those in the nonprofit, academic and private sectors. It is designed to be compliant with federal-reporting guidelines and constitutional requirements.

In an emergency, always call 9-1-1 first. If online reporting is not practical, follow established protocols to report suspicious activity – to include contacting local law enforcement and/or the relevant suspicious activity reporting authority – and contact the SCN Duty Desk at dutydesk@securecommunitynetwork.org or call 844-SCN-DESK.

Thanks to the generosity of Joan and Stanford Alexander, the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston was able to launch Houston’s Jewish Security Program and hire its first Community Security director. In partnership with Secure Community Network, the Federation provides security training, resources and threat-response support to all Jewish institutions in the Greater Houston area.