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Following the resignation of Israeli Police Chief Inspector Moshe Karadi, and the turning down of Karadi’s recommended successor, Prisons Chief Wardon Yaacov Ganot, the recommendation of Central District Commander may finally be a turning point for Israel’s stained police department leadership.
Cohen, who is now said to be a “good, dedicated cop who came up through the ranks” is still to be approved by the Knesset before he can begin to work toward creating a better image in the country’s law enforcement service, an image recently drug through the muck of scandal and controversy.
Those who know Commander Cohen, including former Inspector General Yaacov Aharonisky, have great confidence in the man who is said be a good leader and fair career officer who “knows the police department from the inside out “. A 30 year police force veteran, Cohen has held a number of posts and appears to have a good record in so far as his various duties.
If approved, he will have some considerable public relations and rebuilding tasks ahead of him to restore public confidence in a police force that many regard with skepticism for the least part, and outright distrust otherwise. Corruption, which is rife in the government, is also very much publicized in the police force, which has caused several high ranking officials to leave their positions.
Cohen was recommended for the post by Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter, who himself has been criticized for his support of other police officials whose activities came under public scrutiny. These included Chief Prisons Warden Ganot, who himself turned down the Chief Inspector’s position after his not-so-rosy record was brought to light.
This caused Dichter to begin a frantic search for a ‘few good men’ who might qualify for the publicized and highly controversial Chief Inspector position. These included Police Commander Mickey Levy who asked not to be considered.
The police department has recently been involved in a number of controversial crime episodes including a number of unsolved murders and rapes. Perhaps the most noteworthy event in which the Police were embroiled was the escape and two week par amblings of convicted serial rapist Benny Sela; who, when captured, was held up to the press like a captured animal. This brought a lot of “attention” to Israel’s finest including various comedy characterizations in such television programs as “Eretz Nehederet”. It also resulted in Tel Aviv District Commander David Zur being turned down for the Chief Commissioner post.
Cohen thus has some very dirty laundry to wash, and hopefully he will be able to restore some confidence in a law enforcement body which has been regarded as even more ridiculous than anything that even TV comedian Eli Yatzpan has been able to personify.
It may still be too early to wish Cohen well as he is still considered a candidate. If he does succeed being appointed, then all everyone can do is wish him well.
One Comment
choosing Cohen finally shows some wisdom on the part of dichter,
he might even manage to make some order in the police department
and may be make it clear to his policemen that their job is
serving the public and not the opposite.
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