Toms River: Police Accused Of “Favoritism” After Offering To Keep An Eye On Jewish Homes Over Yom Tov

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A letter township police sent to Toms River’s Jewish community last week is causing a stir after residents accused the Toms River police force of offering special benefits to the Jewish community.

The letter, sent by Toms River police spokesman Ralph Stocco a week before Rosh Hashana, asks the Jews in the community to inform authorities if they would not be home for Yom Tov. In return, the letter said the police would keep an eye out on those homes, ensuring no one takes advantage of the unsupervised properties.

Stocco’s letter upset some of the locals in the town, who felt they were not given similar treatment. On a Toms River Facebook page, one resident asked why the police department had not issued a similar letter before Christian holidays like Christmas or Easter, when many families also are away.

On Tuesday,  Mayor Thomas F. Kelaher  issued a statement to assure residents that Toms River officials are not showing favoritism to Jewish residents. Police would perform similar home checks for any homeowner on vacation, the mayor said.

“Although well-intentioned, the announcement, as worded and publicized, raised concerns that public resources were being used to provide special treatment or a special service not generally available,”  said in a prepared statement that was posted on the township’s Facebook page. “That is categorically not the case.”

“We express regret that any township resident felt excluded or offended by this announcement and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to keep Toms River a strong, vibrant, and inclusive community,” Kelaher said.

(APP)

{Matzav.com}


4 COMMENTS

  1. Simple. The real purpose of the letter was the second part telling people they can only build a small sukkah or they need to file permits etc. I twas prefaced by the first part offering to watch people’s homes when they are away, as a way of sugar coating the bitter news to come after about Sukkah building.
    Second p’shat, this is an entirely new demographic in the neighborhood and thus are being welcomed and given such an offer as a positive way of introduction for the local police.
    However, of course, no explanation will satisfy the locals who are complaining as we all know where it truly comes from.

  2. so what is the complaint? are they asking that the police pay extra attention to all homeowners when they are notified that people are away or are they saying dont pay attention when some people are away so that looters, etc. can take advantage of whatever they want when it is known that people of a certain unnamed religion are away?

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