Shut Down The Shomrim, New York Post Says

A massive Shomrim vehicle parked on a Boro Park street.

By Josh Nathan-Kazis May 14, 2018

The New York Post is calling for the shutdown of Boro Park, Brooklyn’s Hasidic security patrol after its president and founder was charged with raping a 15-year-old.

The Shomrim, a private volunteer security patrol that is largely supported by public funds, has been under increased scrutiny in recent years amid a string of recent scandals.

“There’s something seriously wrong with the Boro Park Shomrim,” the Post writes. “The ’80s are long gone — and the Boro Park Shomrim should follow suit.” (In fact, the Boro Park Shomrim was not founded until the 1990s.)

In its editorial on Monday, the Post cited the alleged rape, a bribery scandal, an alleged beating by Shomrim members of a man they apprehended, and declining crime rates to argue against the Shomrim’s continued existence.

“The Shomrim too often act as if they’re the police — to the point where many residents contact them before the NYPD. But they execute police-like functions with precious little accountability,” the editors wrote.

Though the organization has been controversial for years, the editorial in the Post marks the first major voice to call for their closure in recent memory. Police officials have praised the organization at times, calling it a model for local community patrols.

Contact Josh Nathan-Kazis at [email protected] or on Twitter, @joshnathankazis.

Josh Nathan-Kazis is a staff writer for the Forward. He covers charities and politics, and writes investigations and longform.

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