A group of 17 Georgia police chiefs, sheriffs, command staff, and a deputy director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation traveled to Israel for 16 days to learn about the country’s ongoing war with terrorist groups.
Coordinated by the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange (GILEE), the trip provides public safety leadership training by exposing executives to a war-torn environment.
Many challenges
“The police force in Israel faces challenges on a daily basis we can only imagine here in the United States,” says Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch who participated in the recent trip. “The Israeli Police agency suffered great losses during the course of the October 2023 terrorist attack with more than 60 killed defending their communities.”
Couch says he was extremely impressed with the level of professionalism they maintained while functioning in a virtual war zone with threats on all sides.
During their stay, the delegation also toured different parts of the country, including war-torn areas bordering the Gaza Strip. The trip gave them a first-hand look at the challenges faced by law enforcement in a war zone.
Learning experience
“I gained a deep appreciation for the country and its resilient people during a time of war. Despite facing ongoing challenges and threats from several terrorist groups, the Israelis exhibit remarkable strength and determination. My time there was a valuable learning experience,” the Hall County Sheriff says.
GILEE is a research center within Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. The program has graduated more than 1,300 law enforcement executives in the U.S.
Over the past 33 years, countries from around the world have graduated from GILEE peer-to-peer exchange programs.
