Oakland County sheriff urges stop to antisemitism, threats in aftermath of Temple Israel attack
It has been one week since the violent attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, and officials are renewing calls to halt antisemitic rhetoric and threats.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard held a press conference Thursday afternoon at the Oakland County Sheriff's Office building in Pontiac to discuss the circumstances and how the community moves forward.
Several local faith leaders also spoke, flanked by law enforcement personnel at the podium.
During the March 12 attack, a suspect rammed a vehicle into the building. He died at the scene of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. One security guard was injured, and temple staff said he is now recovering at home. Dozens of first responders sought treatment for smoke inhalation. Children and staff who were at the early childhood center at the facility were evacuated safely, then waited at a nearby building for families to meet up with them.
Bouchard referred questions about evidence and the circumstances to federal authorities, who are leading the investigation.
But he did say that practical lessons learned for local law enforcement in the aftermath included logistics and equipment that could be of help in a large emergency situation.
For example, the mobile command center assigned to the department is a quarter-century old, and Bouchard said they could have used a place where the lead officers could coordinate logistics with satellite technology. He also mentioned that the number of law enforcement officers who had smoke inhalation injuries was related to the fact that airpacks are traditionally considered firefighter equipment rather than law enforcement equipment. While some police did borrow equipment from firefighters on scene, he said there's obviously a need for airpacks in the police vehicles as well.
There have been some questions in the community as to whether too many officers were sent to the scene, a question that both the sheriff spoke about and a reporter asked about. But in discussing the response, he explained, "We didn't know how many assailants there were ... Would you rather have us send too many, or too few?"
Other remarks from the sheriff and statements from faith leaders in Metro Detroit were meant to condemn a spike in antisemitism, a trend that various officials — including Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan — have spoken about in the past week.
To illustrate the situation, Bouchard posted on screen an image of his formal sheriff's portrait, digitally altered so that the Jewish symbol of a Star of David appeared on his forehead. His hairstyle had also been digitally altered into a longer style worn by some Jewish men.
"The person who did this said a bunch of terrible things. Not just against me, but against a lot of groups and individuals — who, by the way, was arrested today in Wisconsin," Bouchard said.
And if that person was emboldened enough to make such a statement toward a law enforcement officer, "What does he do to a kid? What does he do to a Jewish family walking down the street?"
Bouchard reiterated statements made by local and state officials in the aftermath of the attack, asking people to stop or challenge antisemitic attacks when they come across them.
Other speakers included Rabbi Josh Bennett of Temple Israel, Steven Ingber, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Detroit; Dr. Bill Danaher of Christ Church Cranbook; and Iman Steve Mustapha Elturk from the Islamic Organization of North America in Warren.
"All places where God's name is remembered deserve protection," Elturk said.
And Bennett said plans are starting for the repairs and restoration of the temple building.
The Temple Israel attack was the third violent incident at a house of worship in Michigan in less than 12 months, following the shootings in Grand Blanc and Wayne last year.