NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch pledges protection for Jewish community

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch addressed the congregation at Manhattan’s Central Synagogue to pledge increased protection for the Jewish community following a recent violent antisemitic attack. The remarks follow an incident involving 46-year-old Larry Montes, who was charged with assaulting a woman and a security guard while shouting racial and antisemitic slurs at the place of worship.

Tisch noted a concerning trend in hate crimes, stating that while Jewish New Yorkers comprise approximately 10% of the city's population, they account for roughly half of its confirmed hate-crime victims. Data indicates an 8.5% increase in hate crimes against Jewish residents so far this year, with a significant 53.3% spike in antisemitic incidents in July 2026 compared to the previous year.

To combat this, the NYPD is intensifying surveillance through its Intelligence and Counterterrorism Bureau and a specialized hate crimes unit. Tisch emphasized that the department will act as a partner to Jewish institutions, ensuring they are not left to protect themselves against rising violence and rhetoric.