The morning after a Hasbrouck Heights man allegedly walked into St. Patrick’s Cathedral with four gallons of gasoline, lighter fluid and lighters, Wayne police issued a directive to all its officers: Make your presence known in all the township’s houses of worship this weekend.

Patrolling is normally increased for religious holidays, but after the incident in New York City and the sudden fire that nearly consumed Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Wayne police decided to include its investigative unit in the order.

“The goal is not to interrupt what people are doing; the goal is just to let them see us and know that we’re there and if they have any questions or concerns, know that we’re there to answer them,” said Capt. Laurence Martin of the Wayne police.

On Easter Sunday, hours after a series of coordinated bombings targeted Catholic worshipers attending Easter Mass in Sri Lanka, Martin issued another directive telling officers to be aware of international events and be prepared to speak to worshipers about them.

“It’s terrible that we have to have these conversations, but that’s the nature of the world that we live in today, unfortunately,” Martin said.

As the death toll in Sri Lanka climbed into the hundreds, both plainclothes investigative officers and uniformed officers kept watch at churches and other houses of worship in Wayne. They rode around in parking lots, walked around church properties and tried to blend in with congregations attending services.

“You don’t want to go in with lights and sirens,” Martin said. “We’re trying to integrate into the crowds in a subtle mode.”

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The extra patrols began Thursday and will be kept in place until Wayne police decide there is a return to normalcy, Martin said. Patrolling is likely to continue through the end of Passover on April 27.

In Garfield, increased security for houses of worship during holy weeks and holidays has also become routine. But after the threat to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, police decided to add an extra security check to vigils and Masses held on Saturday night.

“We did special checks because of everything that happened this week,” said Deputy Chief Ronald Polonkay.

Checks are held every hour and include indoor walk-throughs and outdoor patrolling. The attacks in Sri Lanka might prompt Garfield police to bolster security even more, Polonkay said.

Elsewhere in North Jersey, police took a more measured approach.

Officers in Elmwood Park make security checks at churches as part of their typical patrol duties, said Chief Michael Foligno.

“Unless there’s a specific threat close to home, we don’t step up patrol,” he said. “We don’t have threats or reasons to do that. We haven’t had any requests from churches.”

Tom Tully, a lieutenant in Teaneck, said police there check on houses of worship on a regular basis, at least two or three times per every 12-hour shift. Extra patrols were added for Easter as standard holiday procedure, he said. Officers typically check the perimeter of the house of worship and make sure doors are locked when the building is not occupied.

Hackensack took no extra precautions as a result of the attacks on churches, but Sgt. Richard Melber said he urged officers to take extra care with houses of worship.

“I always advise my people to be diligent and check,” he said.

Email: shkolnikova@northjersey.com