JCPD Major Participates in Israel Training

Maj. Brian K. Weaver of the Johns Creek Police Department has returned from Israel after a two-week training program to study counterterrorism, emergency management and other types of policing strategies from Israeli police. 

Weaver was part of the 17-member delegation of law enforcement officials who received the training through the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange (GILEE). 

“It was beneficial to see how [Israeli Police] deal with their day-to-day operations in a multicultural environment, in addition to a constant threat of terrorism,” said Weaver. “There’s one police department for the entire country, and they’re helped greatly by a tremendous group of dedicated, community volunteers. It was very impressive.”

The exchange program, which was founded in 1992 by Dr. Robert Friedmann in the Georgia State University Department of Criminal Justice, provides senior law enforcement officers with professional training opportunities in policing techniques from peers abroad. 

“GILEE emphasizes the importance of making best practices and sources of excellence available to its participants so they can improve law enforcement service provision to their communities. The increasing threat of terrorism (international and domestic), fluctuations in crime, and budget shortfalls behoove law enforcement leaders to learn from the best how to improve and balance service delivery. The program in Israel offers exactly that opportunity,” says Friedmann.

This marks the 19th delegation of Georgia law enforcement officers to visit Israel through the GILEE exchange program.