Incoming Police Commissioner Roni Alshich took part on Thursday in a series of official ceremonies marking the beginning of his tenure.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan awarded the incoming police chief with an insignia at a welcoming ceremony held at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem.
Attending the festive occasion was Alshich's family, including his seven children and seven grandchildren, as well as various government ministers and security officials.
Noting he had "never dreamed of becoming a policeman," Alshich stressed the police would serve and protect law-abiding citizens while waging an "uncompromising war" against criminals.
After the ceremony, Alshich is scheduled to meet with President Reuven Rivlin, before making his entrance at the National Headquarters of the Israel Police for an official transfer of power.
At 2:30 p.m. Alshich will visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City. Later in the afternoon, he will lay wreath at the memorial for fallen officers at the Israel Police College in Beit Shemesh.
Alshich, 52, will replace acting Police Commissioner Benzi Sau, who, instead of reverting back to deputy commissioner, has decided to retire from the force. Deputy Commissioner Zohar Dvir will replace him.
The ceremony welcoming Alshich to his new role was scheduled to take place two weeks ago, but was postponed after the former Israel Security Agency official broke his leg.
Alshich is Israel's first police commissioner to be appointed from outside the top brass of the Israel Police, as current Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan seeks to clean up the force plagued by a string of corruption and other scandals.