PHOTOS: Israel Police Marks 70 Years Of Service

(PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

On Tuesday, 2 Iyar 5768, a police ceremony was held in honor of the State of Israel’s 70th Independence Day and the granting of ranks to senior police officers.

In honor of the retired Israel Police and its pioneer retirees over the years, a retired woman inspector, Hannah Jacobson, 92, was among the first women to enlist in the Israel Police.

Hanna joined the police through a newspaper ad and began her service in the Israel Police Criminal Investigation Department in 1948. During the ceremony, Hannah received a gift from the police commissioner and documents from her personal files, in light of her devoted service in the early years of the police and the state.

During the ceremony, ranks were awarded to senior police officers, headed by Brig.-Gen. Yigal Ben-Shalom, who was promoted to the rank of Major-General after being appointed commander of the Lahav 433 unit of the Israel Police.

Yigal Ben-Shalom, 53, married and father of two, served in his last position as head of the International Unit for Combating Serious and International Crimes in Lahav 433, with a BA in Mideastern Studies and an MA in Middle Eastern Studies and Political Science.

During his service in the police, Ben-Shalom held a variety of positions, particularly in the field of investigations and intelligence, including: Head of the Central District Central Committee’s Polling Unit, Commander of the Central Unit of the Central District and a graduate of the National Security College.

The ceremony was held at the National Headquarters of the Israel Police in Jerusalem, in the presence of the Minister of Public Security, Gilad Erdan, the Inspector General, Roni Alshich, and with the participation of senior police officers, officers, policemen, volunteers and pensioners.

The Minister of Public Security, Gilad Erdan, said: “We are here thanks to the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, policemen and policewomen of the Israel Police and the security forces, who demonstrated readiness and sacrifice and paid the most expensive price possible. Those whose death commanded us life.

It is precisely in the shadow of sorrow that we will once again make it clear that the State of Israel will continue to persecute its enemies everywhere under the sun…”

Police Chief Roni Alshich said: “The police have managed to overcome many obstacles for many years, developed new capabilities and repeatedly placed themselves at the disposal of civilians. In addition to the ongoing struggle against crime that has produced impressive achievements, we, as the police, are constantly working to strengthen the norms of obedience to the law in Israeli society in all its various forms, strengthening the nation’s mutual responsibility and cohesion.

In the midst of the challenge of service in a multicultural society, it directly relates to public trust in the Israel Police and, as a result, to the ability of the Israel Police to perform its functions in the best possible manner…”

At the end of his speech, the Police Chief referred to the preparations of the Israel Police for the events of commemoration and independence: “At this special time, the police, the police, the Border Police, the officers and the volunteers are all deployed throughout the country, at various locations and events. The public in Israel will be able to celebrate and enjoy the various events, while police are preserving its well-being and security, as well as public order, and I will be sure that next year, too, the police will continue to be an important and pivotal center for maintaining the strength and security of the State of Israel.”