Barring any last minute surprises, Roni Alshich on Thursday, 21 Kislev, will enter his post as Israel Police Commissioner replacing Acting Commissioner Bentzi Sau.

Alshich was scheduled to assume command a number of weeks ago but this was placed on hold when he sustained a fractured foot. Alshich will become Israel’s 18th Police Commissioner, taking leave of the ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet), where he spent his career, rising to the rank of Deputy Director. While he asked Sau to remain on as a deputy, the latter announced that he is disappointed he was not given the Commissioner’s post, and leaves the department with pride, gratitude and a sense of accomplishment after close to 40 years of service.

It is reported that he plans to make some structural changes including the appointment of two deputies and dividing their tasks so that one is in charge of operational aspects of the department and the second administrative and the department’s senior command.

Alshich, 52, a member of the dati leumi community, is a resident of Givat Shmuel. He is the father of seven and has grandchildren. He is a graduate of Netiv Meir High School in Yerushalayim and entered the IDF in 1981. He joined the ISA in 1988 and was appointed Deputy Director in 2014.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)