This past week, the Teaneck Police Department and the Teaneck Jewish community bade farewell to Detective Ed Lievano. For 26 years, Det. Lievano has been a mainstay in Teaneck and a familiar face to members of Congregations Bnai Yeshurun, Rinat Yisrael and Keter Torah.

Lievano, surrounded by more than 50 local security team and community members, held a small send-off party outside Bnai Yeshurun last week. While he said that retiring is a bittersweet decision, he looks forward to an exciting new chapter with his wife, Eliza, in their new home in Florida.

Lievano has developed personal relationships within the Jewish community, and has been invited to numerous kiddushes and smachot. He reminisced about how he helped kids cross the street every week as a rookie––kids who are now walking their own children to shul.

On a more personal note, some who serve in a security capacity at their respective shuls have gotten a glimpse of another side of Lievano. In addition to the smiling crossing guard, Lievano is a steely-eyed and extraordinarily serious professional. In recent years, Lievano helped “harden” the shuls to keep everyone safer, and this enhancement is just one more debt owed to him. He has also been an invaluable resource, helping shul security teams work hand-in-glove with the TPD, making life in these fraught times a good bit safer and calmer for the entire community. His steadfast dedication to the Teaneck Jewish community’s safety will continue to yield dividends for all in the years to come.