Police, Security Firms Aim at Religious-Racial Crime

Law-enforcement officials have met with leaders of San Fernando Valley synagogues and churches to discuss security measures after recent anti-Semitic and racial vandalism.

Security systems, increased lighting and volunteer patrols by congregation members were advised by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department during a seminar Tuesday at the Stephen S. Wise Temple.

Two private services, Westec Security and SOS Security, volunteered to have their guards occasionally drive by Valley synagogues.

Four incidents of anti-Semitic vandalism were reported in the San Fernando Valley last month, including $4,000 in damage to stained-glass windows at a North Hollywood synagogue. Also, vandals wrote anti-Semitic slogans on Temple Solael in West Hills in June, and St. Ferdinand’s Catholic Church in San Fernando began locking its doors, traditionally kept open, because of vandalism.

Assistant LAPD Chief Robert Vernon said 77 “hate crimes” against religious and racial groups have been reported in the first six months of this year, contrasted with 53 incidents during the last half of 1986 and one during the first half of that year.

Vernon said police give such crimes the same priority as murders and armed robberies. “For all hate crimes, there will be a follow-up investigation from our department,” he promised.

Ted Goldstein, a spokesman for Los Angeles City Atty. James K. Hahn, said one attorney in Hahn’s office may be assigned in September to specialize in prosecuting religious and racial crimes, dependent on approval by the City Council and appropriation of funds.