(PHOTO LINK AT END OF ARTICLE) A unique meeting took place last Wednesday afternoon following an unfortunate incident in Boro Park.

As YWN had reported (HERE), a young girl was abducted on a Boro Park street two weeks ago. Following NYPD protocol, detectives from the NYPD Special Victims Unit were brought into the 66th Precinct  to interview the victim and conduct their investigation.

Following the investigation (which is still ongoing), many community Askanim, along with Brooklyn South Chief Fox felt that the same way that local precinct officers know all about Shabbos, Yomim Tovim and other Jewish laws and customs – the Special Victims Unit should be given sensitivity training as well.

Following the wishes of the concerned community leaders, Misaskim arranged a meeting at their state-of-the-art headquarters which was well attended by NYPD personnel including: Commanding Officer of the Special Victims Unit (Citywide) Tracy Shortell, Lieutenants of the same unit, Chief Banks (PBBS), Inspector Thursland (PBBS), 66th Precinct Commanding Officer Bill DeBlasio, Inspector the devoted men and woman of Brooklyn South’s Community Affairs Unit – including Lieutenant Jimmy Woods, Sergent Ira Jablonsky and members of the NYPD’s Commissioner Unit.

Also in attendance were Special Assistant to the Superintendent of the NYSP Rabbi Bernard Freilich, Dr Marcel Biberfeld (Vice President at Mimonodies Hospital) Simcha Bernath Coordinator of Boro Park Shomrim, Bernie Gibs Coordinator of Boro Park Hatzolah, Raphael Treitel a liaison with the NYPD, Rabbi Osher Eirenreich Principle of Bais Yaakov, noted Askan Rabbi Aryeh Leib Glantz and volunteers from Misaskim.

“There is nothing more important then being sensitive to the communities needs when god-forbid a tragic story like we just saw takes place”, Chief Fox said. “We will do everything to ensure that the highest level of sensitivity will be used in such a situation”.

Many of the attendees had the opportunity to address the very important meeting, all expressing their concerns – and how they can very easily be corrected.

A system was put into place where various professionals from various major community organizations will lecture the detectives of the Special Victims Unit on sensitivity to the Jewish Community. Additionally, should such a story Chas VeShalom take place, various professional community personnel will be contacted to respond to assist in the NYPD investigation – as sometimes victims will be reluctant to “open-up” to a strange detective.

PHOTO LINK: Click HERE for photos.

(Yehuda Drudgestein – YWN NYC Desk)