Coral Gables Police Practice Assault On Synagogue

CORAL GABLES, FL — The Coral Gables Police Department conducted an active shooter drill at a local synagogue Thursday morning but officials said the exercise was not in response to the shooting outside another Miami area synagogue earlier in the week.

"We have had this on the schedule for over two months," Officer Kelly Denham of the Coral Gables Police Department told Patch. "We have conducted active shooter response training for several years with the synagogue."

The training took place between 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Temple Judea in Coral Gables. The synagogue is located at 5500 Granada Blvd and Highway U.S. 1.

On Sunday, 68-year-old congregant Yosef Lifshutz was shot multiple times as he waited outside Young Israel of Greater Miami in North Miami before services began. Miami-Dade police released surveillance images of the black, Chevrolet Impala that was driven by the gunman and have asked the public for help in identifying him.

Mayor Gabriel Groisman of nearby Bal Harbour later confirmed that the Young Israel of Bal Harbour synagogue in his community received what he described as a "suspicious package" on Monday morning. He said the package included threats and anti-Semitic rhetoric.

See also:

• Congregant Shot Outside Young Israel of Greater Miami Synagogue
• Miami Area Synagogue Attack: Images Of Gunman's Car Released

Security has been heightened at many U.S. synagogues since the Oct. 27, 2018, attack on the Pittsburgh Tree of Life synagogue in which 11 people were killed by a gunman.

Coral Gables police said the training exercise on Thursday was closed to the public. It included members of the Coral Gables SWAT team.

"The purpose of the operation is for officers to familiarize and practice the procedures to make entries in case an actual active shooter event," Coral Gables police said.

To make a donation to help Lifshutz, visit the synagogue website and note that the donation is for Yosef Lifshutz.

To report a tip in the case of the North Miami shooting, contact the Miami-Dade Police Department's Intracoastal District Hotline at 305-787-1675 or 305-787-1630 or via email at sta06crimeinfo@mdpd.com. Alternatively, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477) or 866-471-8477; visit www.crimestoppersmiami.com and select "Give a Tip" or text "CSMD" followed by the tip information to 274637.