Mike Goldsmith, law enforcement veteran to Advise, direct and develop community security program
The Secure Community Network (SCN), the official safety and security organization for the Jewish community in North America, and the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, launched a new community security program led by Michael Goldsmith, regional security advisor. The program is designed to significantly increase safety and security for all those who participate in synagogues, day schools, museums, service organizations, and other centers of Jewish life in and around Tidewater.
“SCN is honored to work in partnership with the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater to ensure the safety, security, and resiliency of the Jewish people. This initiative is part of our effort to create a security shield over the Jewish community in North America,” says Michael Masters SCN national director and CEO. “We are establishing comprehensive security initiatives across the country to empower communities and give them the resources they need to protect themselves. We are thrilled to build on our partnership with the Federation and Tidewater community to support greater safety and security efforts for the community.”
“UJFT is excited to enhance our partnership with SCN and welcome Mike Goldsmith to our team,” says Betty Ann Levin, UJFT executive vice president/CEO. “As America faces dramatic increases in antisemitic threats and incidents, Jewish communal security has never been more important. Michael`s nearly 35 years of experience and knowledge of safety and security issues in our community will be instrumental in keeping us as safe, secure, and prepared as possible.”
Tidewater is amoung the growing network of Jewish Federations and communities that have partnered with SCN to launch community-wide security programs designed around an “all threats, all hazards” approach to preparedness, safety, security, and resiliency. Each program is connected to SCN’s national operations, providing direct access to SCN’s National Jewish Security Operations Command Center and Duty Desk, as well as best practice security resources and support related to policies, procedures, physical security, facility assessments, training, and incident response.
To lead the effort, public safety expert and law enforcement veteran Michael Goldsmith has been appointed the Regional Security Advisor. Goldsmith will serve as SCN’s full-time representative to develop and administer a comprehensive program that provides risk mitigation, security consultations, assessments, and training to Jewish institutions throughout the region. He will teach SCN’s flagship training courses such as Be Aware: Introduction to Situational Awareness, Countering Active Threat Training, and Stop the Bleed®.
Goldsmith served the City of Norfolk for nearly 35 years as a law enforcement officer and as Deputy City Manager. While with the Norfolk Police Department, he worked in patrol operations, special operations, criminal and administrative investigations, and homeland security. He was appointed Chief of the department in 2012.
Goldsmith also served as the Law Enforcement subject matter expert for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization`s Allied Command Transformation, where he participated in exercises at the NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy and the Defense Concepts and Doctrine Center in Shrivenham, England.
Goldsmith will serve as an expert advisor to Jewish institutions and establish a system of collaboration, coordination, and communication among community organizations. He will also serve as a liaison to local, state, and federal law enforcement partners and represent the Federation and the Jewish community in public security forums.
“It’s an honor for me to continue working in Tidewater and contribute to the safety and security of the Jewish community,” says Goldsmith. “I look forward to leveraging my professional experience and community relationships to help everyone become more prepared and resilient against all forms of threats.”