HACKENSACK, N.J.—Bergen County Sheriff Anthony Cureton is ordering Sheriff’s Office personnel to increase patrols at synagogues and surrounding population centers in response to the Dec. 10 shooting targeting a kosher deli in Jersey City. The tragic shooting left six dead, including Jersey City Police Detective Joseph Seals.
While there is no specific or credible threat at this time, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office is operating on heightened alert and is working cooperatively with local law enforcement to ensure the safety of Bergen County residents.
The Sheriff’s Office reminds residents to report any and all suspicious activity to law enforcement.
Cureton wrote on Dec. 11, “The men and women of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office express our deepest condolences to the Jersey City Police Department on the loss of Police Detective Joseph Seals and our hearts go out to the families, friends, and loved ones grieving the loss of the victims from this tragedy.”
He said, “I must reiterate once again that hate, anti-Semitism, racism, and bigotry have no home here in Bergen County. The Bergen County Sheriff’s Office will do everything in its power to ensure that our county continues to be a welcoming home for all residents.”
Also Dec. 11, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) mourned the death of several victims, including Seals and Leah Minda Ferencz and Moshe Deutsch, the owners of the Jersey City Kosher market that was attacked.
“I am devastated by the terrorist attack in Jersey City. The loss of life is unbearable. Detective Seals was a son of North Arlington and the father of five children. It is no full comfort to his loved ones, but Officer Seals saved lives yesterday. I stand with his grieving family and brothers and sisters in law enforcement who wake up every day to protect our communities,” he said.
He added, “And I mourn Leah Minda Ferencz and Moshe Deutsch and all other victims. They were targeted for being Jewish. No American should feel unsafe because of their religion. Not one. An attack on any person for their religion is an attack on every one of us. Antisemitism is a cancer on the world that must be stamped out wherever it rears its ugly head.”