A Summit County Sheriff car. Photo: TownLift

Smith said that he will personally stand outside of church doors if need be to ensure that worshippers feel safe.

PARK CITY, Utah — In response to the Hamas attacks on Israeli citizens, Summit County Sheriff Frank Smith has increased patrols near Park City’s Temple Har Shalom.

Smith said that while he’s unsure if these current events will translate into danger in Summit County, he and his team would rather be ahead of the curve in terms of providing protection for Jewish residents.

“We’re putting a tremendous effort into keeping our Jewish community here in Park City, in Summit County, safe. We’ve increased patrols near the synagogue,” Smith said. “we are going to be vigilant, we are going to be visible. But more importantly, when we have intelligence from other agencies, we will immediately act on it.”
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Smith strongly believes in protecting religious freedom for all Summit County residents, and said that he will personally go stand outside of church doors if need be to ensure that worshippers feel safe.

“I will not allow these terrorists, even though it’s happening in a foreign land, bully anyone in our country, or anyone in our county, and we will do everything to stand up and ensure that everyone feels safe, that everyone feels it’s OK to go worship or go to the grocery store,” Smith said. “We take it very, very seriously.”

The Park City School District and Board of Education also released a statement condemning the attacks on Israeli citizens, and vowing to support both students and teachers.

“We are committed to ensuring that our staff and students feel safe, supported, and respected in their learning and working environments,” said the statement. “The District has shared resources with our educators to support them in navigating the questions and issues that may arise, and our schools have supports and resources at the ready for any of our staff and students who may need them.”

As social media coverage of the attacks continues to circulate online, the district and board are asking families to stay aware of the content their students consume online.

“We also recognize the role that social media plays in this moment, and the potential for such coverage to be traumatic and stressful,” said the statement. “The District will stay vigilant and aware of social media coverage, and we encourage families to monitor social media intake.”