Security threat to Kansas City Jewish community ‘resolved’ by law enforcement
Published June 15, 2016
(JTA) — A security threat to the Jewish community of Kansas City was “resolved” by local law enforcement, the head of the local Jewish federation said.
Helene Lotman, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, issued a statement Tuesday that Jewish agencies became aware that morning “of a potential threat to the broader Kansas City Jewish community.”
“Working in collaboration with law enforcement officials, immediate steps were taken by our Director of Community Security to secure our facilities,” the statement said. “Law enforcement has since resolved the situation, and we continue to work with local and national officials to maintain a safe and secure community.”
The statement also called on members of the local Jewish community to maintain their “partnership” with the local Jewish agencies to keep the community secure.
“If you see something of concern, please say something to a security officer or staff member,” Lotman said.
Local police reportedly said the FBI was investigating the threat. An FBI spokeswoman in Kansas City told the Kansas City Star newspaper that she could not confirm or deny whether the FBI was investigating.
In April 2104, a white supremacist killed three people in front of two Kansas City Jewish institutions: two in the parking lot of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City in Overland Park, Kansas, and one in the parking lot at Village Shalom, a Jewish assisted-living facility a few blocks away.
The killer, Frazier Glenn Cross, said he intended to kill Jews, but none of the victims were Jewish. Cross, who also goes by the name Frazier Glenn Miller, was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death earlier this year.
