Interfaith Advisory Council meeting held in Morris County; house of worship security highlighted

Published on September 15, 2017

Several of New Jersey's top law enforcement executives met with leaders and government representatives from throughout the state Wednesday for an Interfaith Advisory Council meeting in Rockaway Township. The Council aims to maintain ongoing dialogue with all communities of faith in New Jersey and to address security needs and concerns.

Jared Maples, Acting Director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, moderated the program at Christ Church and welcomed special guests: State Attorney General Christopher Porrino and FBI Special Agent in Charge James Cochran. Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Warren County Prosecutor Richard Burke, the First Vice President and President, respectively, of the County Prosecutor's Association of New Jersey also participated.

A highlight of the event was a presentation by Al Imperiale, Director of Infrastructure with the Homeland Security Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office and Patrick Owens, State Critical Infrastructure Coordinator with the N.J. Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, on protective measures for faith-based institutions.

Imperiale said this takes a balancing act, because regardless of the faith involved, it's important for houses of worship to be open and welcoming to all. He said the goal for all faiths is to institute security measures without turning a house of worship into Fort Knox.

Imperiale said there is no one size fits all approach, noting that houses of worship and the properties connected to them can be very different. For example, they can include large, mega-churches, a small temple, a rectory or a minister's single family home adjacent to a church.

State Attorney General Porrino stressed the importance of the Interfaith Advisory Council meetings, noting that they are periodically held to train clergy and others on the need to enhance security. Security needs for many denominations are heightened with the approaching holiday season.

Prosecutor Knapp used the occasion to invite attendees to an upcoming Diversity Training to be held Oct. 2 by the Division of Criminal Justice at the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy.

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A fact sheet from the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness suggests a number of protective measures for houses of worship.

They include developing advance plans for responding to an emergency, regular emergency drills for employees, establishing regular communication with local police, and installing and routinely testing an emergency communications system. Additionally, all threats, even those that appear minor or joking, must be taken seriously.

Officials of houses of worship also are urged to be alert for those who may want to do them harm. That means being mindful of unexpected packages, vehicles parked outside a church, temple or mosque at odd times and people wearing bulky clothes or aimlessly loitering in or near a house of worship.

For questions about this release, contact Public Information Officer Fred Snowflack at (973) 829-8159 or fsnowflack@co.morris.nj.us.