WHITEFISH BAY – Nearly a year has passed since the Harry and Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center received its first bomb threat, but JCC President Mark Shapiro still hasn’t forgotten the support he received from the FBI and other law enforcement agencies during an uncertain time.
“At a time when our JCC and other JCCs around the country needed partners, we found exactly what we needed,” Shapiro said. “We found an empathetic partner and friend.”
The JCC closed four times in six weeks because of bomb threats. The threats were received by Jewish community centers nationwide in January, February and March 2017. In April, Michael Kadar, an 18-year-old with dual U.S.-Israeli citizenship, was charged for his involvement in the bomb threats.
“We know today that the threats made to our JCC and JCCs across the country were not credible, but we didn’t know that on the morning of Jan. 31 or into the month of February or into March of 2017 that they were not credible,” said JCC Board Chairman James Miller. “All we knew was we had a responsibility to serve the community inclusively, safely and in partnership with those around us.”
Justin Tolomeo, special agent in charge of the Milwaukee Division of the FBI, said he also appreciated the support he received from Shapiro during that tumultuous time.
“Mark was instrumental in being a bridge during the threats to JCCs across the country and through him being able to communicate what was going on, what was happening and have conversations about how to best position ourselves for a proper response,” Tolomeo said.
On Wednesday, Jan. 17, Tolomeo awarded Shapiro with the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award. Tolomeo said the award recognizes Shapiro’s assistance during the bomb threats, as well as his contributions to the local community.
The FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award is awarded every year by each of the 56 FBI field offices in the country. In addition to the certificate he received Jan. 17, Shapiro will receive a glass award from FBI Director Christopher Wray during an April 20 ceremony at the FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C.