Beexley council creates $650,000 federal synagogue security grant fund; city to deploy synagogue officers

Beexley City Council on Tuesday adopted Ordinance 03-26 to establish a Federal Synagogue Security Grant Fund and appropriate $650,000 from the general fund to support a federally funded synagogue security program.

The measure, introduced by Council Member Marcelino and seconded by Council Member Markham, passed on a roll-call vote. Auditor McPeek read the aye votes; the council recorded unanimous support among members present. The ordinance authorizes fund 82 to receive and advance grant reimbursements and to permit transfers between personnel and operating appropriations as needed to cover actual personnel costs.

Jewish Columbus representatives Julie Tilson Stanley and Jonathan B. Fible attended the meeting and praised the city's partnership. —We wanted to just express extreme gratitude for the unwavering partnership and leadership that the city of Bexley has shown to the Jewish community,— Julie Tilson Stanley said, thanking the city for taking a —proactive approach when it comes to ensuring our safety.— Jonathan B. Fible, identified as chair of the board of Jewish Columbus, read a proclamation commending Chief Gary Lewis and proclaimed March 11, 2026, as Gary Lewis Day in the central Ohio Jewish community.

Chief Gary Lewis told council the city plans a synagogue auxiliary initiative funded by the grant. —We're looking at probably four who will be part-time,— Lewis said, describing the goal of assigning officers specifically to work with the three synagogues in the city. He said the department prefers to hire experienced, commissioned officers or recently retired officers to avoid long training timelines and to avoid cross-pollination with regular patrol staffing.

Lewis said the department has met with Jewish Columbus and synagogue leadership about deployment and that the timeline is contingent on final federal approvals and reimbursement paperwork: —We're still waiting the final aspect from the federal government . . . but we're close to being able to hire. We would hope that [deployment] is probably a May turnaround,— he said.

The ordinance and the chief's description do not create permanent new city general-fund positions; the grant-funded resource is structured to be reimbursed by federal funding and to be accounted for in the new fund. The ordinance text allows the city to advance funds and treat grant reimbursements per standard municipal accounting practice.

Council and presenters also noted security training and sensitivity efforts; the proclamation cited department training about Judaism and a K9 training detail described in the proclamation text. Council members and Jewish Columbus leaders framed the action as strengthening community safety and relationships.

Next steps: city staff will complete the federal grant's final administrative requirements and proceed with hiring or contracting under the program as funds are reimbursed.