Assistant County Police Chief Willie Parker-Loan said law enforcement is aware of the significance of Oct. 7 and police will provide high-visibility patrol as a deterrent to violent acts.
“The community should not be alarmed when they see police officers and/or police vehicles around religious sites or schools,” Parker-Loan said during a media briefing Wednesday. Oct. 7 marks one year since the violent attack by Hamas on Israel that ignited the ongoing war. As the day approaches, police have and will continue to reach out to communities and places of worship to provide guidance and safety tips, he said.
County Executive Marc Elrich said there are concerns about the Oct. 7 anniversary: “Since last Oct. 7 I’ve had many conversations with members of the Jewish, Muslim, and other communities. And while our diverse communities fear for their safety and friends abroad, they also fear for themselves and their loved ones here at home in Montgomery County.”
Elrich announced applications have reopened for the county’s Nonprofit Security Grant program for funding to deter hate crimes.
The funds can be used for security personnel, a security assessment/security plan, security training, a security drill, security cameras, or to purchase a fususCORE device which enables security camera feed-sharing with county police, said Lisa Mantel, program manager with county Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
$1.2 million will go to houses of worship, faith-based groups and nonprofits in the county at risk of hate crimes, per a release. The county council approved the $1.2 million as part of the Fiscal Year 2025 operating budget. The county’s Emergency Management and Homeland Security will administer the funding. Groups can request up to $15,000 per facility. Organizations must apply for funding by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 18.
