Channels
Photo: Alex Kolomoisky
We thought we already saw everything
Photo: Alex Kolomoisky

Shameful day for police

Affair involving officers who targeted mobster just another sign of police decline

We thought we already saw everything when it comes to the Israel Police: Cops that allow a serial rapist to effortlessly escape from the courthouse’s courtyard; police officers who guard clubs for money; policemen who play an active role in an armed robbery; cops who engage in sexual offences; and even one officer who was hired as a hit-man on behalf of the mob. But what happened in recent months in the Northern District’s Central Unit broke all records: Uniformed police officers who place explosive devices in vehicles belonging to criminals – we haven’t seen that one yet.

 

Poor Avi Dicther, the internal security minister. He took over the post with plenty of good intentions and with the aura of a Shin Bet chief who eliminated the Intifada. Today, he is facing elements within his own organization that are engaging in an Intifada against the rule of law.

 

The stature of Central Police Units across the nation has declined a while ago. Once upon a time, when a police officer identified himself as a member of the Central Unit, even criminals would show respect. The mere mention would be awe-inspiring. I remember them as a child on the streets of Tel Aviv, driving around and being considered the police’s elite unit. But as years passed by, they turned from “Delta Force” to yet another cumbersome investigative body that punches in at work but doesn’t bring too many results.

 

Nothing will change

 

In Tel Aviv, the Central Unit, which has been considered a failure as of late, has been operating without a commander for some time; finding a new chief is proving to be difficult. The reason is simple: The intrigues and divisiveness within the unit are reminiscent of the Pensioners’ Party.

 

Now, the Northern District’s Central Unit is at the eye of the storm. It turns out that rotten apples were operating within it undisturbed. And we must not forget: This time, the state witness in the affair is not some kind of innocent police officer who decided to uncover terrible corruption out of a sense of moral responsibility; we are talking about a policeman who was forced to confess and incriminate his comrades after investigators presented him with their severe findings.

 

So what will happen in the Israel Police the “day after”? Nothing. The headlines will scream, commentators will say that the district chief and police commissioner should be dismissed, police officers will bow their head a little, Dichter will talk about how terrible this all is, and maybe we’ll see the establishment of a new commission of inquiry. But at the end of the day, nothing will change.

 


פרסום ראשון: 11.22.07, 21:14
 new comment
Warning:
This will delete your current comment