Since its inception in April 2022 , the Safe Indy Security Initiative has provided necessary resources to help secure the Indianapolis Jewish community as well as many Jewish organizations across the state of Indiana. Safe Indy has accomplished this primarily through physical security risks assessments, training, and security consultations provided by Community Security Director Grant Mendenhall. Additionally, Safe Indy has provided the Indiana Jewish community access to critical safety and security resources made available through regional and strategic partners.

In addition to risk assessments, training, and consultations, Safe Indy has enhanced community-wide information-sharing and access to safety and security resources through the development of partnerships with local and federal law enforcement agencies, the Marion County Interfaith Security Working Group, the Jewish Community Relations Council, and the Anti-Defamation League. Ongoing collaboration with these organizations has equipped the community to know about and respond to potential threats when they emerge and has provided avenues for educational community dialogue on topics such as antisemitism and security threats common to all faith-based organizations.

Safe Indy’s strategic partnership with the Secure Community Network (SCN) has provided national resources to support safety and security efforts across every facet of Jewish life, from synagogues to day-schools, to assisted living facilities. Additionally, SCN has provided security programming and ongoing support to overnight camps, such as Goldman Union Camp Institute (GUCI), and university campus organizations, such as Hillel at Purdue University and Indiana University.

“Safe Indy has partnered with GUCI to improve camp physical security and staff training through ongoing classes, news articles, conversations, site visits, and support with grant applications,” said Ilana Gildenblass- Nadel, administrator and development associate for GUCI.

Arguably the most critical component of the ongoing support provided by SCN is access to the Duty Desk; a cadre of Chicagobased intelligence analysts, supported by state-of-the-art software and data analytics, who proactively monitor Internet-based threat streams and provide early warning capabilities and related research support to individuals and law enforcement partners. Safe Indy utilizes Duty Desk expertise on a regular basis to stay abreast of the local, regional, and national threat environments.

In addition to the day-to-day support, SCN has continued to build out its leadership structure to further support community security programs across the US. This includes the hiring of five regional directors who supervise SCN community security directors and regional security advisors. They provide the full suite of SCN safety and security services to network/independent and otherwise underserved Jewish communities. Indianapolis will directly benefit from this through the hiring of Regional Director of the Midwest Bevan Stauffer. He will have direct supervisory responsibility for Safe Indy and the recently established Safe Louisville program, will work to develop additional
security programs across the Midwest, and will provide safety and security services to Jewish communities in the region that don’t currently have a community security program.

“I am excited to be a part of the SCN leadership team, and I look forward to supporting Safe Indy in its ongoing mission to provide a security shield across the Jewish community in Indianapolis and across the state of Indiana,
Stauffer said. Stauffer is currently in Columbus, Ohio and recently retired following a 30-year career in the FBI.

While Safe Indy began as an Indianapolisfocused initiative, it quickly grew to include a number of Jewish organizations across the state of Indiana. This program growth has led to the current effort to formally expand Safe Indy to include every Jewish organization in Indiana under the Safe Indiana Security Initiative. This effort is a partnership with the Jewish Federation of North America’s, LiveSecure initiative, a nation-wide fundraising effort to create new community security programs and enhance existing programs, such as Safe Indy.