As yet another top police official on Wednesday was accused of sexual impropriety, MK Shelly Yechimovich (Labor/Zionist Camp) called for police to stop all non-essential police activity for at least 24 hours – while officials figure out what to do about the numerous scandals that have enveloped Israel's police force.
“The leadership of the police force is crumbling, plagued by a moral crisis,” said Yechimovich. “Police National chief Yochanan Danino must make clear that he is taking this matter seriously. Halting non-essential operations to allow an investigation to proceed, as the IDF does when unusual events happen will send that message to officers.”
Yet another scandal involving police erupted Wednesday, as yet another top police official was accused of inappropriate behavior with female officers. The official, a district commander, underwent questioning Wednesday over accusations by female subordinates. The name and rank of the commander is currently classified, as is the area where he serves.
Over the past several years, dozens of top police officials have been accused of such activities, and eight of them have been forced to resign or have been fired. Several have been charged, although none have yet served jail time.
Recent cases include include that of Judea-Samaria District Commander Koby Cohen, - who resigned his post – as well as Niso Shaham, Roni Atiya, Bruno Stein, Menashe Arbiv and Yossi Pariente. A media frenzy over Pariente's resignation in October garnered so much backlash that the Commissioner pledged to "clean up the force" and initiate a polygraph test policy for future police candidates.
Cohen's resignation is under similar circumstances; it was revealed recently that he was implicated in an inappropriate relationship with one of his subordinate officers and may have offered her career opportunities as an incentive.
Yechimovich added Wednesday that police also needed to conduct sensitivity training for officers on matters involving relations between the genders, and to institute programs that encourage female officers who have been abused to come forward.