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46 DAVID CHESHVAN / KISLEV 5773
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METRO MENSCHES JEWISH OFFICERS THAT SERVE AND PROTECT
By Lynn Wexler-Margolies
“W
hat, a policeman? A Jew becoming a policeman? Unheard of! If you want to deal with the law, go to law school and become a lawyer!” the Jewish mother says in her matter-of-fact tone. On the one hand, the pursuit of education and a profession has been a trait of the modern Jewish family. On the other hand, Jews have a long history as protectors of their communities. The Book of Leviticus, 9:16, says: “Thou shalt not stand idly by thy neighbor’s blood.” In biblical times, the Shomrim (Hebrew for guards or watchers) were sentries who guarded Jewish camps, fortresses and villages. When a Jew accepted the responsibility as Shomer, he committed to standing guard for those who were vulnerable and at risk. Fast forward to 1924 and the establishment in New York City of the first Shomrim Society in the United States; initially, it was organized to guard against discrimination of Jewish Police Officers. Now, Shomrim Societies are all over the country (though not in Las Vegas). Their main function is to unite and serve the many Jews in public safety fields. In the UK they are known as The Jewish Police Association. “The concept of the law, its enforcement and adjudication have always been vital and central precepts of the Jewish religion,” says Jack Kitaeff, author of Jews in Blue. “In fact, there has been no other system in the history of the world which has sought for so long to combine moral and ethical teaching with the practical exercise of civil and criminal jurisprudence.” Perhaps that’s why our Jewish mother reconsiders her assertion, softly recanting, “Do what you think is best. I will always be proud of you.” Today, a fair percentage of Jewish men and women hold a variety of positions, and almost every rank, in most major U.S. city police departments. Las Vegas seems to be the anomaly, though it’s unclear if that’s true. The LVMPD’s Office of Public Information stated that the department does not keep racial, ethnic or religious profiles of their personnel. As such they do not know how many Jewish officers are on the force. The four Jewish officers I spoke with for DAVID also did not know. And no one knew if there were any Jewish women on the force.
With some 80,000 Jews living and working in the greater Las Vegas valley (and judging by their percentage in departments elsewhere), there should be a fair amount. With a police force of some 2,500 officers (that number is down due to budget cuts, including a Police Academy that has been unfunded for recruitment for more than two years), it’s curious that most Jewish officers are unaware of each other. The officers reason that Jews on the force are likely flying below the radar, preferring to focus on work rather than visibility. They agree that, given the existence of police associations for Latinos, Asians and black members of law enforcement, perhaps it’s time for that to change. And yet these Jewish officers are quick to mention that the strength of the force lies in its neutrality. Each officer is proud of and values his Jewish identity and the morals that guide him, but also is aware that the department’s mission is “to protect the community through prevention, partnership and professional service.” LVMPD’s vision is to be “the safest community in America.” Officers subscribe to the guiding principle of I CARE (for Integrity, Courage, Accountability, Respect for People and Excellence). LVMPD is Nevada’s largest law enforcement agency, and one of the biggest in the U.S. It was formed in 1973 as a city-county police force overseeing Las Vegas and all of vast Clark County. It’s headed by the Clark County sheriff, who is elected to a four-year term. As the only elected head law enforcement officer within Clark County, the sheriff is not under the direct control of the city, county or state. Doug Gillespie, elected in November 2006 and again in 2010, faces no term limits by law. The department’s headquarters, completed in 2011, are downtown on Martin L. King Boulevard. The 370,000-square-foot building consolidates 27 law enforcement bureaus. The spacious lobby features a memorial wall honoring officers fallen in the line of duty, and museum-style cases filled with police paraphernalia, history and anecdotes dating to the 1930s. Each officer I sat with described the department in glowing terms. By their accounts, and by the national recognition and accolades accorded LVMPD for its many forward-thinking programs and successes, the safety and welfare of Las Vegas is in capable hands. NOVEMBER 2012 DAVID
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“As a people, we want to leave the world a better place than how we found it.” — Sgt. Alan Schlossberg
Sgt. Alan Schlossberg, 57, is originally from Boston. He entered the Las Vegas Police Academy when he was 28. “I was in business at the time. Making money for me was never an issue. But fulfillment … that was different. I had an epiphany. I wanted a hand in saving the world. It was a time when a lot of my friends were turning to drugs … there was the Vietnam War. I watched America begin its slow decline socially, and I thought I could make a difference.” That’s why he chose Detention Services. “I thought I would have more time to help post-arrest folks in crisis than I would on the streets.” He went through extensive training in what he says is today “ … recognized as the finest academy of its kind in the United States.” He attributes that to the sheriffs and staffers who stepped up to accommodate the department’s needs. He has seen many changes in Detention’s philosophy toward corrections. In the 1990s the lockup became one of the first new generational jails in the country, a response to civil rights advocacy. “We implemented The American Correctional Association’s procedural manual on modern correctional methods, which holds that a loss of freedom is not a loss of dignity.” That led to construction of the Las Vegas Tower, which eliminated jail bars and a lack of privacy in favor of single-occupancy rooms with doors. The Tower eventually was closed due to budget considerations, but the overriding philosophy of using interpersonal communication to accomplish the corrections mission — with force as a last resort — endured. Schlossberg is proud of a number of achievements throughout his career, principally his appointment as the first program coordinator ever in Detention Services, which yielded him the autonomy to pursue his vision of corrections work. “In a year and a half, I put together 16 behavior modification programs,” he says. Then, with a close friend and associate, he got the General Assembly in Carson City to pass unanimously a vital piece of legislation. “It allowed Juvenile (system) justices to sentence atrisk youth to alternative program sentences as opposed to jail.” Though he received no recognition, Schlossberg says he would do it all again under the same circumstances. “It’s all about ethics and integrity. At the end of the day you have to know that you did the right thing.” He credits his Jewish values for his epiphany and his integrity. “As a people, we want to leave the world a better place than how we found it,” he says. And as a proud husband, father, friend, professional and involved community member, Schlossberg embodies that principle while remaining vigilant in his charge to guard and protect. 48 DAVID CHESHVAN / KISLEV 5773
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“I don’t think there’s anything more Jewish than being a police officer.” — Sgt. Harry Fagel
Sgt. Harry Fagel, a 19-year veteran of the LVMPD, works in the Professional Standards Division of the department’s Internal Affairs Bureau. “I’m the policemen’s police,” he states with a jovial demeanor. Born and raised in Las Vegas, and Bar Mitzvah’d at Temple Beth Sholom, Fagel graduated from UNLV with a criminal justice degree before entering the Police Academy. “I thought about going to law school — yes, my mother suggested it — but after taking a ride in a patrol car I knew that police work was for me,” the 44-year-old says. “It sounds crazy because we’re often involved in trauma. But the officer is generally the only person in the midst of chaos and catastrophe that a victim can cling to for psychological survival. You feel like you’re saving lives in more ways than one. “Internal Affairs saves people’s careers,” Fagel says. “Our goal is to protect the integrity of the department and its officers. When things happen, they get investigated. If someone is evil, they shouldn’t be wearing a badge. But that’s the exception. Often it’s a misunderstanding that gets straightened out. Other times it’s behaviors that need to be corrected. Some very good people, even in high places, make mistakes. We help them through the consequences and the corrections.” He believes LVMPD is one of the nation’s best-trained forces. “Our leadership is progressive and strives to stay ahead of the curve.” Whether it’s the focus on community-relations and outreach, preparedness for all situations and a commitment to making Las Vegas safe for its residents and tourists, “… everyone who works at the department loves what he does, Fagel says. “That doesn’t mean we’re without challenges. Change is a challenge. Police work is typically grounded in tradition and it’s tough to switch gears. When society changes, the department has to change to meet the needs of the people. “The economy is a challenge because job and home loss creates hopelessness, and more crime. And media sound bites that stereotype us in a bad way … that makes it harder for the public to trust us and impacts our effectiveness,” he says. Fagel balances the negatives with family, humor and writing poetry. He’s published two works; does readings for private and public events and has played a cop in movies and on TV. “I don’t think there’s anything more Jewish than being a police officer. It’s tikun olam [Hebrew for repairing the world]. Justice, kindness, standing up for others and helping strangers … they’re all tenets of being an officer and being a Jew. I love what I do and it suits who I am.” NOVEMBER 2012 DAVID
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“Jewish identity is very important to who I am, though adversity is more likely the author of my ambitions.” — Det. Dori Koren
Detective Dori Koren works in counterterrorism at LVMPD. He entered the Police Academy at 21, after graduating from UNLV with a criminal justice degree. Seven years later, it may sound strange to describe him as a veteran. But Koren’s the exception. Born in Israel, he and his family moved to America when he was 2. He’s charming, energetic, focused, single and available. Koren is close to his three brothers and considers his mother his hero. She raised her sons after their father left when Dori was 6. “Life was difficult. I saw very bad things, which motivated me to want more and better. I watched my mother sacrifice for us. My Jewish identity is important to who I am, though adversity is more likely the author of my ambitions.” He moved quickly from patrol officer into counterterrorism, where he works in intelligence. “Over the past year, I’ve been fortunate to represent the homeland security interests of our community and the department in Washington, D.C., and around the country, serving as a subject matter expert and law enforcement liaison for multiple federal, local and private sector agencies. I was also given the opportunity to review and write national level policy that’s been implemented.” His capabilities and ambitions notwithstanding, he credits his early rise in the department to supportive leadership, a cadre willing to operate outside the traditional advancement schedule. “The sheriff supports a very proactive Homeland Security Department, with a strong commitment to protecting our citizens. Our bread and butter is that Strip, and the Strip could be a potential target due to its intrinsic vulnerabilities, value and visibility.” he says. “Our biggest challenge in counterterrorism is to stop extreme ideologies when they become violent. Prior to that, there’s no law against having the ideology, and it’s equally as important to protect those freedoms.” As far as being Jewish, “It’s in my blood to be determined, to go beyond, to defy the odds, and to do it for the welfare of the greater good. Seems Jewish to me.”
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“As a Jew I learned that if you save a life, it’s as if you’ve saved the world.” — Officer Darren Schwartz
Darren Schwartz is a 15-year veteran of the LVMPD force. At 35, he’s served as a uniform patrolman, field training officer, a detective in the Gang Crimes Bureau and has been assigned over the years to various area commands, working all three shifts. “I like moving around. I could never have a desk job,” he explains. Born in Queens, he moved to Las Vegas in 1981, where his family opened an Exxon gas station. After graduating from UNLV with a criminal justice degree, he entered the Police Academy. “Ever since I was a boy, I’ve wanted to be either a firefighter or police officer,” he says. His mother reminded him that nice Jewish boys don’t become police officers. But he did and “she’s always proud when she sees me in my uniform and helping others.” He’s been married for 11 years to a criminal defense attorney, which “makes for some very interesting, if not heated conversations at home,” he says. “It’s funny. We work in the same system but approach it from different perspectives. I work to arrest them and she works to put them back on the streets. We’ve learned to tone it down, though, to maintain the peace.” Growing up, his family was more religious. They still go to temple, he says, but on the high holidays. “I grew up in USY. All of my lessons learned were in Jewish youth groups. I remember hearing that, as a Jew, if you save a life, it’s as if you saved the world. That’s my job … to protect and save. It’s very Jewish.” But on the force “once you’re in uniform, it’s a family. We’re all the same,” Schwartz says. He wishes more Jews would become officers. He figures they don’t consider it a profession. But with “all of the specialty training, and the college degrees earned, that’s changed. It’s a great profession and deserves more consideration. True, there are days when I hate the world. But there are more days when I feel like I saved it!” he says. Schlossberg, Fagel, Koren and Schwartz met for the first time when they posed for DAVID’s cover photo. They would like to form a Jewish Police Association, and DAVID is pleased to have had a part in bringing that about. They have asked that Jews in Las Vegas law enforcement interested in joining please call Alan Schlossberg, at 702-671-5720, or Harry Fagel at 702-828-1948.
NOVEMBER 2012 DAVID
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Elie Wiesel, Humanist A Crusader for Tolerance and Justice Born 1928 in Transylvania (now part of Romania), Elie Wiesel is a voice against human atrocities and an advocate for the perils of silence. As a Holocaust survivor, his destiny rose from the ashes of Auschwitz. He was educated in Paris and later became a journalist and author of more than 50 books. He is a professor, a 1986 Nobel laureate, and the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor, National Humanities Medal, Lifetime Literary Achievement Award, Medal of Liberty and the rank of Grand-Croix in the French Legion of Honor. He has been awarded more than 100 honorary degrees from institutions of higher learning. As president of The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, he and his wife are dedicated to the fight against indifference, intolerance and injustice. In their citation The Norwegian Nobel Committee called him a “messenger to mankind,” Mr Wiesel has delivered to mankind, throughout his life, a powerful message of “peace, atonement and human dignity.” DAVID: You are the voice for protest and the conscience for indifference. You experienced first hand the price paid for silence. As the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities at Boston University’s Departments of Religion and Philosophy, how do you educate young people who have not paid that price, and instead fear the cost of speaking out? WIESEL: Evil has no boundaries. The destruction of one people represents the destruction of all. The message is not whether one should consider paying the price for protesting. The price will inevitably be paid. The question is, do you want to pay it sooner and minimize the damage, or later and face greater, unspeakable horrors? Never be silent. Protest at any sign and at any cost. Don’t give hatred the possibility of growing. DAVID: How old were you when the Nazis deported you and your family to Auschwitz? WIESEL: I write about it in my book Night (La Nuit). I was 15. My mother and younger sister died there. My two older sisters survived. My father and I were later transported to Buchenwald, where he died shortly before the camp was liberated in 1945. It was where I understood my mission: that I must be the voice for the millions who were silenced; that
this should never happen again; and the world must guard against it. The moment I saw that I had a public audience, I took the opportunity to be heard, even if they were not listening. DAVID: Do you see a comparison between the current rise of radical Islam and world appeasement, and the past rise of the Nazi regime? WIESEL: I don’t like comparisons. They are not helpful. And I do not believe radical Islam is the same as the Nazis. The mission of the Nazis was to wipe out all the Jews. I do not believe that is the mission of radical Islam. Don’t get me wrong; I oppose them. They should be stopped, but they are not the same as the Nazis. DAVID: You said, “Friendship marks a life more deeply than love. Love risks degenerating into obsession.“ Please elaborate. WIESEL: I have been blessed with wonderful friends who have been with me for much of my life. Friendship lasts because of what you share together. Love is sometimes too emotional, and cannot always withstand the test of time. DAVID: As a learned Jew, do you have a favorite biblical character? WIESEL: I would have to say Moses. He was a prophet and never had a good day in his life. Either the people were against him or G-d was against him. But he followed his G-d-given mission no matter what. He was the commander in chief of perhaps the first liberation army, and the greatest legislator who ever lived. And he had humility, something everyone needs, especially leaders. DAVID: Why especially leaders? WIESEL: Because they have power. DAVID: Can you share a regret, or lesson learned, that could enlighten readers? WIESEL: I thought maybe by my witness to atrocities, it would be received and things would change. But if this were true, there would not have been Rwanda, Darfur, Cambodia and Bosnia. Human nature cannot be changed in one generation. We must continue the fight. Mr Wiesel will be honored at The Dr Miriam and Sheldon Adelson Educational Campus Anual Gala, Saturday, November 17, 6:30 pm, The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino.
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