Latimer directs police to step up patrols near Jewish facilities following Monsey attack

Westchester County officials are on high alert following the stabbing attack in Monsey over the weekend.

News 12 Staff

Dec 30, 2019, 10:40 PM

Updated 1,596 days ago

Share:

Westchester County officials are on high alert following the stabbing attack in Monsey over the weekend.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer is directing the county police to step up patrols at countywide Jewish facilities in response to this weekend's stabbing attack at a shul in Monsey.

"That hate really has no home here and that people of every religion support those of any religion that are being targeted,” he said.

Latimer is also charging the County Human Rights Commission to find more ways to combat potential discrimination.

"We can't be blind to what we're seeing, which is an increase in incidents against our Jewish brothers and sisters,” said Latimer.

County legislators are publicly denouncing the attack in Rockland County – with some taking it a step further by looking to harden the county's hate crime laws when the new legislative session starts in 2020.

Democratic Legislator-elect Vedat Gashi says concrete actions speak louder than words.

"Even before this attack in Monsey, we had ample reason to be concerned about rising acts of anti-Semitism and hate crimes across the spectrum,” he says.

New York City has already strengthened its definition of hate crimes and incidents.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced he wants to make hate crimes acts of domestic terrorism under state law.

In his 2020 budget, Latimer added a hate crime specialist to the County Human Rights Commission and set aside extra money for the department.


More from News 12
0:54
Police: Double shooting kills one man, seriously injures another in Newburgh

Police: Double shooting kills one man, seriously injures another in Newburgh

2:03
Warm and dry today; showers move in tonight

Warm and dry today; showers move in tonight

2:34
Latimer and Bowman square off in News 12 debate for Democratic nod in 16th Congressional District

Latimer and Bowman square off in News 12 debate for Democratic nod in 16th Congressional District

54:48
WATCH: Rep. Bowman and Westchester County Executive Latimer debate in race for 16th Congressional District

WATCH: Rep. Bowman and Westchester County Executive Latimer debate in race for 16th Congressional District

0:19
$8 million allocated for pedestrian safety improvements in Ramapo

$8 million allocated for pedestrian safety improvements in Ramapo

2:41
Made in the Hudson Valley: An American Dream comes true through Laura's Boutique and Bridal

Made in the Hudson Valley: An American Dream comes true through Laura's Boutique and Bridal

0:18
Yonkers park to get $500,000 make-over and first upgrades in 35 years

Yonkers park to get $500,000 make-over and first upgrades in 35 years

1:01
Headlines: Pedestrian killed, suspects sought in hit-and-run, supermarket pepper spray incident

Headlines: Pedestrian killed, suspects sought in hit-and-run, supermarket pepper spray incident

1:20
White Plains Jewish Agency unveils memorial for massacre victims

White Plains Jewish Agency unveils memorial for massacre victims

0:39
Traffic Alert: Overnight roadwork in New Rochelle

Traffic Alert: Overnight roadwork in New Rochelle

0:28
Film Preservation Festival in full swing at Jacob Burns Film Center

Film Preservation Festival in full swing at Jacob Burns Film Center

0:21
35 new correction officers graduate intensive training program

35 new correction officers graduate intensive training program

0:22
Congressman secures $700,000 for energy efficiency improvements in Hudson Valley businesses

Congressman secures $700,000 for energy efficiency improvements in Hudson Valley businesses

NYC man fled traffic stop, crashed on Saw Mill River Parkway; faces slew of charges

NYC man fled traffic stop, crashed on Saw Mill River Parkway; faces slew of charges

1:50
Police seek identities of drivers seen operating school buses dangerously in Monsey

Police seek identities of drivers seen operating school buses dangerously in Monsey

0:45
Yonkers Police Department kicks off National Police Week

Yonkers Police Department kicks off National Police Week

1:13
Transgender bathroom policy discussed by community at Wappingers School District board meeting

Transgender bathroom policy discussed by community at Wappingers School District board meeting

0:17
Hurricanes score 4 in third period, rally to beat Rangers 4-1 in Game 5 to avoid elimination

Hurricanes score 4 in third period, rally to beat Rangers 4-1 in Game 5 to avoid elimination

2:14
Police investigate claims of antisemitic flyers, messages at Monsey business that put up Israeli flag

Police investigate claims of antisemitic flyers, messages at Monsey business that put up Israeli flag

0:25
Yonkers police seek suspects in pepper-spray incident at ShopRite

Yonkers police seek suspects in pepper-spray incident at ShopRite