Suspicious Package Found Saturday at Florida Synagogue

Suspicious Package Found Saturday at Florida Synagogue

“We try to keep vigilant at the synagogue, and it’s not new, not necessarily since the Pittsburgh attacks, but we’ve been vigilant there ever since 9/11,” Etz Chaim Synagogue President Dr. Scott Ackerman said.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • February 13, 2019

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office investigated on Saturday a suspicious package found inside the Etz Chaim Synagogue. No hazardous material was found.

Synagogue President Dr. Scott Ackerman, who was out of town at the time, told First Coast News that he spoke to a JSO officer who told him the bomb squad had been called to the building due to a suspicious package found inside. Ackerman said San Jose Boulevard was shut down during the investigation, but an all-clear was given at about 11:20 a.m.

Ackerman said he appreciated that congregants observing the Sabbath called the police when they noticed something suspicious.

“We try to keep vigilant at the synagogue, and it’s not new, not necessarily since the Pittsburgh attacks, but we’ve been vigilant there ever since 9/11,” Dr. Ackerman said.

Concerns about security have been further heightened after the mass shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, which left 11 people dead and many others injured.

Etz Chaim Synagogue has security measures in place in case of an emergency, including an off-duty police officer near the house of worship. Ackerman said the synagogue works closely with the JSO and the FBI to notify them of any threats to the community.

 “I think Jacksonville is great. The Jewish community in Jacksonville is cohesive and a strong part of our community,” Ackerman said. “And thank God in Jacksonville, we don’t experience much in the ways of antisemitism.”

According to a JSO spokesperson, an off-duty officer notified dispatch about the suspicious package and the area was evacuated.

"We took extra safety precautionary steps to ensure the public's safety due to the proximity of the item to the synagogue on Sabbath day," JSO said.

No hazardous material was found and there was no threat to the community discovered.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Emerging Campus Access Control Solutions

    Emerging solutions in campus access control can mean different things. Usually, we expect the topic to focus on the very latest in door security products and solutions that have just been recently released or are about to be launched. After all, staying up on improvements to keep campuses safer is critical. Plus, it’s always interesting and exciting to learn what’s new and how innovations are going to better protect lives and assets and help the industry be even more successful. Read Now

  • Here’s How Instructional Audio Can Play a Key Role in School Safety

    Ensuring the safety of students and employees is critical in today’s educational environment. While the threat of a school shooting is in the back of everyone’s mind, the truth is there are many possible scenarios that could crop up at any time in classrooms, hallways, and other school spaces—from fights or altercations to a sick child or staff member who requires emergency attention. Read Now

  • The Role of Trusted Access Control and Identity Management

    The diverse and dynamic campus environments of modern post-secondary institutions rely on multiple systems and processes to ensure campus security and operational efficiency. Read Now

  • Survey Shows How K-12 Teachers View School Security

    Teachers are an unmistakably vital part of the K-12 school security equation. And survey results released by Pew Research in April help shine a new light on how teachers view school shooting and security. Read Now

    • Education Security
Most   Popular

Webinars