CRIMINALS ARE NOT AFRAID TO SHOOT COPS, CIVILIANS CURSE THEM AND POLICE SUFFER FROM LOW MORALE ..... IN THE US? NO, IN ISRAEL

Israel's new police chief has his work cut out for him

 

By Itsik Saban 

 

Israel Hayom

January 18, 2021

 

That's it. No more excuses. The Israel Police has a new commissioner, and from now on, the burden of proof rests with him. True, the question as to why it took two years to appoint a commissioner will remain, but those who know Yaakov Shabtai know this is a man who presses on even as the bullets are flying over his head. If there is one thing he loves, it's the ability to change things for the better.

Shabtai is taking over an Israel Police that suffers from two acute problems. Public trust in the police is at an all-time low, and as a result, police deterrence has been dramatically harmed. Crime is out of control across all sectors of Israeli society. Criminals are not afraid to shoot police officers, civilians curse them, and for some members of society, the law is no longer a red line that cannot be crossed.

The organization also suffers from low morale. Shabtai will need to quell concerns over the politicization of the process for selecting commissioners as well as claims police selectively enforce the law depending on the sector.

Shabtai's first tasks will be to restore public trust in the force, bolster deterrence against criminal organizations, and pick police officers and commanders off the floor. Regardless of how the election turns out, the next government will need to pass budget cuts that will necessarily impact the police force and could harm its development and ability to procure the equipment it needs. Following a pandemic, a return to routine life is also expected to lead to financial difficulties. The concern, as always, is that the rage and frustration will be directed at the police.

Some see Shabtai's lack of experience as a district police commander as a point of weakness, but the fact that he commanded a forcer as large as the Border Police is to his credit. Nevertheless, his lack of experience in any staff position at the national headquarters may be a problem because a large part of the commissioner's job involves working with external bodies. Shabtai can overcome this challenge if he appoints quality officers, the likes of which can in fact be found in the Israel Police, to serve beneath him. We wish him the best of luck.