Hunterdon County Commissioners, Sheriff stand united with Jewish community
Sheriff Brown To Deploy Additional Resources to Assist Local Law Enforcement Personnel
HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ – Following information received from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), regarding a credible security risk against New Jersey Synagogues, Hunterdon County Sheriff Fred Brown worked directly with partners at the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office and local law enforcement agencies to offer additional Sheriff’s personnel to help supplement the local security posture throughout Hunterdon County.
“We take the information received by the FBI very seriously and I want to help to reassure the public that the Sheriff’s office is working closely with local law enforcement entities to ensure they have the necessary resources. People should be able to visit houses of worship without the fear of violence,” Brown said.
Earlier today, the FBI detained a person of interest connected with the threats against synagogues throughout the State of New Jersey.
James E. Dennehy, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Newark office said, “He no longer poses a threat to the community at this time.” The identity of the subject has yet to be released and while the FBI believes the New Jersey resident was acting alone, the investigation is ongoing.
Commissioner Director John E. Lanza said, “The uptick in antisemitism across the country is very troubling and my colleagues and I condemn this rhetoric in the strongest possible terms. I thank Sheriff Brown for his ongoing collaboration with local law enforcement personnel and he has the Board’s full support for any additional resources that may be needed to protect the public.”
Sheriff Brown continues to monitor the situation and remains in active contact the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General and Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée M. Robeson as well as local police chiefs.
“I have spoken directly with religious leaders within the Jewish community in an effort to reassure them and pledge my office’s full support and cooperation to keeping their congregations safe as this situation continues to unfold,” Brown said.
