Surfside Police Chief Charles R. Press and Major Jay Matelis led a pre–Jewish High Holiday safety meeting on Sept. 18, 2025, gathering community members, faith leaders and law enforcement officials to discuss safety, awareness and partnership during the upcoming holidays.
The meeting, held ahead of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, focused on building trust between law enforcement and the Jewish community while addressing practical concerns. Topics included observance restrictions and traditions, communication between police and houses of worship, and safety protocols surrounding missing persons and issues of dignity during the holiday season.
Chief Press emphasized that open dialogue with religious institutions is key to ensuring residents feel both safe and respected.
“This dialogue is essential to ensuring that our Jewish community can celebrate the High Holidays in safety and peace,” Chief Press said. “By strengthening our partnerships with faith leaders and residents, we continue to build trust and resilience throughout Surfside.”
The discussion also reviewed crime trends, community concerns and strategies for maintaining clear lines of communication between police officers and worshippers. Officials encouraged residents to remain vigilant and report unusual activity, particularly around religious institutions.
“This is about more than safety,” Press added. “It’s about dignity, respect and protecting the traditions that make Surfside such a special community.”
