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Learning In Israel
Local law enforcement travels to Israel to learn about security practices.
Ronelle Grier I Contributing Writer
A
delegation of high-ranking law
enforcement and security officials,
including a local police chief and
the head of security for Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit, traveled to Israel
for a firsthand look at Israeli security prac-
tices and counter-terrorism methods and
how they can be used to improve safety in
the United States.
Michigan participants were West
Bloomfield Police Chief Michael Patton and
Gary Sikorski, director of community-wide
security for the local Federation. According
to Sikorski, Patton, a longtime advocate of
community outreach, was a logical choice
because West Bloomfield is home to a large
Jewish population as well as a number of
Jewish agencies.
Other group members included top-level
law enforcement personnel and security
directors from other Jewish Federation
agencies from five North American cities.
The trip was led and organized by Secure
Community Network (SCN), sponsored by
the Jewish Federations of North America
and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit. Accompanying the group were
Deputy Undersecretary of Homeland
Security Dr. Ronald Clark and Paul
Goldenberg, national director of SCN.
From Nov. 15-21, the group spent an
intensive week touring a variety of locations
and engaging with their Israeli counterparts
to learn how successful practices can be
used at home, with emphasis on informa-
tion and intelligence sharing and coopera-
tion among law enforcement, private orga-
nizations and members of the community.
One of the highlights of the trip was a
visit to the headquarters of the Knesset,
Israel's legislative branch, located in the
capital city of Jerusalem. The group was
given a behind-the-scenes look at the mul-
tiple layers of security in place to protect
the facility and those who work there.
"It's the tightest security system I've even
seen in my life Sikorski said.
Other highlights included a visit to the
national academy where Israeli police
are trained, dinner with a Jerusalem Post
journalist who discussed the Israeli-Arab
perspective and meetings with high-level
security officials such as Knesset Member
Mickey Levy, former commander of the
Jerusalem Police District and the Judea
and Samaria Police District; Avi Dichter,
former minister of Public Security and Shin
Bet director; and Dr. Tal Steinherz, chief
12
On Masada: West Bloomfield Police Chief
Michael Patton and Gary Sikorski, direc-
tor of community-wide security for Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.
Sikorski and
Patton with
members of Israeli
law enforcement
technological officer of the National Cyber
Bureau.
To Patton, one of the most striking differ-
ences between Israel and the United States
is the mandatory military service required
of all Israeli men and women. He believes
this training produces a culture of citizens
who are automatically more security-con-
scious, even after their official service ends.
"The 'see something, say something'
policy we are trying to promote here is not
as necessary there," Patton said.
He also noticed that Israelis appear to be
more aware of their surroundings because
of the constant threat of unexpected attacks
in populated areas.
"You see fewer people on their cell
phones in public places:' Patton said.
According to Sikorski and Patton, the
group came away with a new understand-
ing of how important it is to maintain
strong partnerships between various law
enforcement entities and the communi-
ties they serve. Sikorski was impressed
with a mobile safety application called
"Musketeer; which allows individuals, civil-
ians and law enforcement personnel to put
out signals in case of danger or suspicious
activity.
Sikorski said he was not surprised by the
security measures he observed in Israel, but
he was impressed by the way each compo-
nent worked together to form a cohesive
whole.
"They [the Israelis] use a layered
approach incorporating law enforcement,
private security, the military and the com-
munity, and it all meshes together; he
said. "Here [the United States], everyone
has their own domains, and there can be a
replication of resources. In Israel, they work
together by necessity:"
He also appreciated the opportunity to
learn about Israeli security methods for
schools because that is where new mea-
sures have been implemented locally in
recent years.
The group toured some of the Jewish
neighborhoods, such as Gilor, Armon
Hanatziv and Har Homa, located in close
proximity to Arab communities. This
"seamline" tour was led by Col. Dany Tirza,
the architect of the controversial security
fence, a separation that runs more than 400
miles along the 1949 Armistice Line in the
West Bank.
"Sometimes good fences make good
neighbors:' said Patton, who was impressed
with the way the Israelis strive to accom-
modate diverse and sometimes adversarial
members of the population. "They make an
effort to be patient and tolerant. It's a good
example for anyone who lives in a demo-
cratic society:'
Sikorski was able to meet with rep-
resentatives from the travel vendors for
Federation Mission trips, making connec-
tions that will benefit future missions.
"I have personal contacts now in Israel,
along with a better understanding of how
the process works," he said.
The itinerary also included visits to
traditional Israeli tourist sites such as the
Yad Vashem Holocaust History Museum,
a climb to the top of Masada and a tour of
King Herod's hilltop fortress, and a visit
to the Dead Sea. As first-time travelers to
Israel, Patton and Sikorski were struck by the
beauty of the country, its varied landscape
as well as the sense of history that emanates
throughout the land.
Patton, calling it the "trip of a lifetime,"
was struck by the relation of the religious
quarters in the Old City of Jerusalem to the
history of the world.
"The trip provided me with a greater
appreciation of what goes on in other
parts of the world and what we could be
facing here:' *
details
The Michigan Israel Business Bridge
(MIBB) Educational Foundation and
Federation's Israel and Overseas
Department are sponsoring a presen-
tation about the security trip by West
Bloomfield Police Chief Michael Patton
and Gary Sikorski, director of community-
wide security for Federation, from 11:30
a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, at the
Max M. Fisher Building, 6735 Telegraph
Road in Bloomfield Hills.
Cost is $15 for members; $20 for non-
members. For information, contact Caryn
Zeitlin, caryn@michiganisrael.com or
(248) 642-1701.