West Bloomfield, MI — The security guard injured during the recent incident at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield has been identified as Danny Phillips, a veteran law enforcement professional who has spent decades working in public safety.
Phillips currently serves as the Director of Security at Temple Israel, a role he began in June 2025. The synagogue announced his hiring at the time as part of what it described as a proactive effort to strengthen security in response to evolving safety concerns facing Jewish communities.
According to the temple’s announcement, the full-time position was created to oversee security operations and help ensure the safety of congregants and visitors.
Phillips brings more than two decades of law enforcement experience to the role. His professional background includes a long career with the Bloomfield Hills Public Safety Department, where he served for over 26 years.
During that time, Phillips worked as a Public Safety Officer beginning in 1999 and later rose through the ranks to become a lieutenant, a position he held from February 2019 until June 2025 before transitioning to the Temple Israel position.
His professional training and experience include areas such as threat assessment, security operations, crisis management, public safety, counterterrorism awareness, emergency management, and criminal investigations.
Phillips also studied sociology at Saginaw Valley State University and has received numerous professional endorsements related to law enforcement and security operations.
Temple Israel previously described Phillips as bringing “extensive experience in law enforcement” along with a commitment to supporting and educating fellow public safety professionals on keeping communities safe.
At the time of his hiring, temple leadership said the position reflected the congregation’s “unwavering commitment to the safety of our sacred community.”
Phillips had been serving in the role for approximately ten months at the time of the incident.
Authorities have not yet released additional details about the extent of his injuries.
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