The Jewish Community Center in Brighton was temporarily evacuated Tuesday after a bomb threat was reported.
A heavy police presence was called to the facility at 1200 Edgewood Ave.
An email alert went out to employees and members about 6 a.m. About 75 people were inside the facility when the threat was received, said Arnie Sohinki, executive director of the Louis S. Wolk JCC of Greater Rochester.
“I am aware that there are other JCC facilities across the country that have received the same or similar-type threats,” Brighton Police Chief Mark Henderson said during a morning briefing on the side of Edgewood Avenue. “We will work with the FBI to see if this was a similar type threat.”
Henderson declined to disclose how the threat was received mid-investigation.
Brighton police officers, Monroe County sheriff’s deputies, New York State Police troopers and FBI agents will all sweep the facility Tuesday and investigating the threat. Henderson said he hopes to be able to reopen the facility later Tuesday.
Henderson said previously established protocols were followed during the incident.
“We’ve worked with JCC on emergency planning for a number of years,” he said. The protocol “went into place immediately. The facility was locked down and an evacuation occurred,” Henderson said.
Parents of children who attend the daycare associated with the JCC were alerted as well, and told to make alternative childcare arrangements Tuesday.
FBI spokeswoman Maureen Dempsey said the FBI and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are assisting with the investigation. The agency, she said, continues to investigate possible civil rights violations in connection with threats to Jewish Community Centers across the country.
The incident has not impacted traffic on Edgewood Avenue, as the road remained open Tuesday morning.
The investigation is ongoing.
The center will be closed until at least 9 a.m. this morning.
