09/05/2024
JFC Security LLC 'Gold Standard' Across the Country
KAITLYN FINCHLER | CJN
Baratz
With four months until it celebrates 10 years, JFC Security, LLC, a community security initiative, has become the “gold standard” across the country. In 2013, former FBI agent Jim Hartnett was hired to serve as director of community-wide security for the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s security provider.
Oren Baratz, Federation’s senior vice president of external affairs, said in a 2023 Federation blog post, when security began at the Federation, there was no formal approach to community security, as the initial focus was solely on its building.
“The whole transformation was moving from protecting one building to protecting an entire community,” Baratz said. “It was a huge change. But as we grew, we became more sophisticated in our whole approach. Likewise, we knew we had to move forward in such a way that enabled Jewish Cleveland to remain open and welcoming to all.”
Hartnett
Since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas surprise attack on Israel, JFC Security has worked to “quickly respond with the appropriate investigative follow up,” Hartnett previously told the Cleveland Jewish News.
In a Nov. 30, 2023, CJN story, Hartnett said he encourages community members to be watchful, on heightened alert for “anything out of place” and to keep reporting incidents - no matter how big or small.
“Even if they’re unsure - let us make that decision,” he previously told the CJN. “If you see something that just seems out of the ordinary or unnerving, your first call should be to 911, to the police and then to JFC Security, to make sure we follow up together.”
Hartnett was hired by Stephen H. Hoffman, who worked at the Federation for 44 years, serving as president for 35 years, from 1983 to 2018.
“We began to do assessments of our beneficiary agencies and local synagogues,” Hoffman said in the blog post. “We provided law enforcement departments floor plans of these organizations. And we began conducting personalized tabletop exercises and training sessions to help the clergy, leadership teams and volunteers understand what to do in an emergency.”
Hoffman
Although JFC Security often takes on investigations regarding antisemitism, Hartnett said one of the initial concerns was protecting the Jewish day schools as gun violence in schools was escalating, the CJN previously reported.
According to the blog post, as of December 2023, JFC Security had, at the time, trained more than 3,700 community members since 2019, is patrolling Jewish Cleveland seven days a week, every week and leadership has a combined 160-plus years in law enforcement.
More recently, JFC Security launched a new security training series, “Run-Hide-Fight: Active Shooter Response,” on a monthly schedule open to the community and upon request for institutions, the CJN previously reported.
“This is exactly what we need to be doing as a community, is being prepared for any kind of hostile confrontation we may be confronted with,” Hartnett previously told the CJN. “And the best thing we can do as a community is know our options and how to stay safe.”
Rudin-Luria
According to its website, JFC Security has over 50 officers and covers over 60 synagogues, nine early childhood centers, 10 Jewish day schools and numerous social service organizations across Greater Cleveland, including the Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland.
Outside of its regular network, JFC works closely with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, local responders and Chagrin Valley Dispatch, according to its website.
Neil Waxman, chair of the JFC Security committee, previously told the CJN the four pillars of the LLC are awareness, target hardening, training the community and relationships with local law enforcement.
Hartnett said “training saves lives,” which is why it invests so much time and resources into providing “a host of security training” for adults and children.
“What makes JFC Security so exceptional is both the people and the professional level of security they provide,” Federation President Erika B. Rudin-Luria said in the blog post. “They are constantly learning and innovating in order to do their best to help protect all of us - and enable us to live Jewishly however we choose. The Jewish Federation of Cleveland cares about the well-being of the entire Jewish community. Providing a secure environment is a key component to that end.”
To learn more about participating in or scheduling a “Run-Hide-Fight: Active Shooter Response” training session, visit jewishcleveland.org.
