Erdan delays final police chief appointment decision until after election
In addition, Erdan said that in coordination with Cohen, he would be making some changes of the police’s senior echelon of officials.
By YONAH JEREMY BOBUpdated: JANUARY 6, 2019 02:56Gilad Erdan(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Security Minister Gilad Erdan announced on Friday that he has extended acting police chief Moti Cohen’s tenure for at least four more months, delaying a final appointment decision until the new government is established.The decision further makes Cohen the favorite for nabbing the permanent appointment – Cohen has already run the police for around a month – though Erdan did not say so explicitly.Erdan explained that after examining the situation, including that elections have been scheduled for April 9, appointing a new police commissioner might be viewed as tainted by politics.He also implied that he had been discouraged by legal officials from making such a decision in this period, though there is a debate on the issue, and some top legal officials believe that under the current unique circumstances, appointing a new chief now would be permitted.The Public Security Ministry emphasized that there were many worthy candidates for the position of police chief and that the decision to delay should not reflect a lack of faith in the available candidates.In addition, Erdan said that in coordination with Cohen, he would be making some changes of the police’s senior echelon of officials.On December 25, there had been media reports that Erdan planned to move forward on appointing a new police chief despite entering election season, provided he would get legal approval from Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit.Traditionally, it is frowned upon or even illegal to make major appointments during election season to avoid impropriety regarding the appointment.However, The Jerusalem Post has learned from top officials that the unique circumstances of the current police chief process – including the fact that the process started long ago, the crucial nature of the position and that the former chief already stepped down – may allow an appointment of a new chief as an exception to the rule.If the process had gone forward – and as will likely be the case when it goes forward in four months – then there would be five candidates, including two former IDF major-generals and three current top police officials, according to Hadashot News.
Cohen, who has passed the polygraph test failed by Moshe Edri, Erdan’s original choice, has been viewed as the leading candidate over the last month.Cohen was initially appointed in early December as a place saver for 45 days when it became apparent that Edri would drop out and former police chief Roni Alsheich was already stepping down.
