FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Tuesday, November 11th, 2014
Sheriff Hosts High Ranking Israeli Police Delegation
Sheriff Mitch Ralston Reports:
Today, November 11th, Sheriff Mitch Ralston and the staff of the Sheriff’s Office along with the Sheriff’s Auxiliary, hosted a delegation of 18 high ranking police officers from Israel. The Israeli officials were visiting the state of Georgia as part of the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange (GILEE) Program. GILEE is a partnership /curriculum of Georgia State University which “enhances inter-agency cooperation between State of Georgia Law Enforcement Agencies and the police force of the State of Israel, primarily in the area of community policing, and offers an educational professional program to senior Georgia law enforcement officials in Israel, primarily in the areas of counter-terrorism and drug interdiction.” GILEE is in its 22nd year, and is directed by Dr. Robert Friedmann, a well known criminologist and counter terrorism authority. This is actually the second time that Sheriff Ralston and his staff have played host to high ranking Israeli officials, the first being in October, 2012. It is very uncommon to be selected to participate in the program for more than one occasion, according to GILEE.
The group of 18 Israeli officers, which consisted of 16 men and two women, were composed primarily of members of Israel’s national police force (Israel Police), but also included members of the Border Police, Israel Prison Service, and one member of a special forces transport unit. The Israelis ranged in rank from lieutenant colonel to the senior officer, Major General Yaron Beery. The Delegation was escorted into Gordon County by deputies mounted on motorcycles and in patrol cars and driven to a special event location off-site where they were served lunch. After lunch, the motorcade traveled to the Sheriff’s Office where they were greeted by the Sheriff’s Honor Guard. Sheriff Ralston made remarks praising America and Israel’s long standing “special relationship” as allies in the War on Terror, and as allies in general, and remembering World War II and the Holocaust. County Commissioners Jeff Gazaway, and Kevin Cunningham, County Administrator John King, and County Attorney Jim Ledbetter were also in attendance. The Sheriff’s Training Staff then conducted an instruction session which concentrated on the Sheriff’s Office’s strategy concerning community policing. After a question-and-answer session, the Israeli Delegation toured the Office Buildings and Jail.
Doctor Friedmann said, “We have been especially impressed by Sheriff Ralston and the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office’s professionalism, their hospitality, and their reputation for community policing. We thoroughly enjoyed our time here with them today.”
Sheriff Ralston said, “What a great honor to have been selected a second time to participate in the GILEE program. It was a fine learning experience for my staff and myself , and I feel like both we and the Israeli officers acquired some new knowledge which we can all apply to our respective duties. Peace officers often form special bonds of friendship, and it is good to know that we have friends and comrades in Israel”.
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