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 nathankazis@forward.com or on Twitter, @joshnathankazis.

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

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO