BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — Houses of worship across Palm Beach County, including several in the Boca Raton and West Boca area, are being added to a new Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office alert system designed to notify religious institutions when certain nearby incidents could become violent.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Business Partners Against Terrorism Unit hosted a training and breakfast event Tuesday, May 12, 2026, for houses of worship in PBSO jurisdiction. The event was held in the Grand Ballroom at the Hilton Palm Beach - PBI, 150 Australian Avenue in West Palm Beach.
Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and the PBSO Business Partners Against Terrorism Unit hosted the training, which focused on the PBSO Alert Notification System. The system is being made available to houses of worship located within PBSO jurisdiction.
The alert system went live today.
The system automatically notifies participating houses of worship by text message, automated phone call and email when an applicable incident is occurring within one-quarter mile of the property. PBSO described those incidents as incidents in progress or incidents that just occurred and could escalate to violence.
The purpose is direct and practical. A house of worship does not need to wait for word to spread informally if a dangerous situation is unfolding nearby. The system is intended to push the notification out to those locations quickly.
The training drew a large group of religious institutions from across Palm Beach County. The attendee list provided by PBSO included churches, synagogues, temples, Buddhist centers, ministries, schools connected to religious campuses and security representatives serving multiple religious locations.
Boca Raton-area attendees included B’nai Torah Congregation, Boca Jewish Center, Boca Pointe Shul, Boca Raton Synagogue, Chabad of West Boca, Congregation Shaarei Kodesh, Congregation Torah Ohr, Temple Beth El, Temple Beth Torah, Temple Torat Emet and Young Israel of Boca Raton. Other nearby attendees included Delray Orthodox Synagogue, Delray Torah Center, First Baptist Church Delray Beach and St. Joan of Arc.
The list also included houses of worship and religious organizations from Boynton Beach, Lake Worth Beach, Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Belle Glade, Jupiter, West Palm Beach and other communities within PBSO’s jurisdiction.
PBSO’s Business Partners Against Terrorism Unit works with private and community partners on public safety awareness and prevention. In this case, the focus is on religious campuses, which often host services, school programs, community events, holiday gatherings and weekday activities.
The system does not replace emergency calls, law enforcement response or on-scene investigation. It is an alert tool tied to nearby incidents that PBSO determines are applicable under the system. The notification goes out when the incident is within the one-quarter-mile radius and involves an incident in progress or one that just occurred and could escalate to violence.
For local houses of worship, the system creates another layer of situational awareness. A notification could allow staff, clergy, security teams or volunteers to adjust access points, pause outdoor activities, move people inside, monitor entrances or otherwise prepare while law enforcement handles the active incident.
The training came one day before the system’s scheduled launch. PBSO provided attendees with information on how the alert system works and how houses of worship will receive notifications.
The attendee list reflected a wide range of faith communities. Along with churches and synagogues, PBSO listed the Palm Beach Dharma Center and Wat Phrasouk Buddhist Temple among attendees. Secure Community Network, identified by PBSO as a security company across multiple churches, also appeared on the list.
For Boca Raton and South Palm Beach County residents, the rollout affects several familiar institutions. B’nai Torah Congregation, Boca Jewish Center, Boca Pointe Shul, Chabad of West Boca, Temple Beth El, Temple Torah Emet and Young Israel of Boca Raton were among the names provided by PBSO.
Residents who attend services or events at participating houses of worship may see additional internal safety procedures as those organizations begin receiving alerts. The system itself is operated through PBSO’s notification process and is tied to incidents within the defined radius.
PBSO said the Alert Notification System will be available to all houses of worship in PBSO jurisdiction.
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