Police increase presence at Long Island synagogues for Yom Kippur

Police have increased their presence at synagogues across Long Island as members of the Jewish faith observe Yom Kippur, local police said.

This year's observance comes hours after a Canadian police officer was wounded in a shootout with an armed man Sunday night outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, Ontario.

Media coverage of that shooting said the officer had been hired to protect the congregation at the synagogue, about 100 miles east of Toronto. Both the officer and the other man were hospitalized following the confrontation, according to reports.

While there are no threats locally, Suffolk County police are in contact with its law enforcement partners regarding the shooting at the Ontario synagogue. As always, patrols are increased around religious institution during religious holidays, and the department has now enhanced those efforts.

Nassau County police officials said in a statement Monday that the department "will always increase our patrols around places of worship" during holidays — and said the department has been in contact with partners in the law enforcement intelligence community "on the regional, national and international level."

Police said the department also had held a meeting this month "with the leaders of the Jewish community to exchange information and brief them with regard to our security measures."

It is normal for police on Long Island to have increased presence near places of worship on most major religious holidays — and also routine for law enforcement to provide further increased presence in the wake of targeted events that occur in the U.S. or abroad.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press, Society of the Silurians and National Headliner Awards for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing. He is the author of “Swee'pea,” about New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. His debut crime novel, “For Nothing Is Hidden,” rooted in 1950s Long Island, was released in October 2025.