Moshe “Chico” Edri is required to undergo a polygraph test to be eligible to become the next police chief, the advisory committee for the appointment of senior civil service officials announced Wednesday evening.Edri told Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, who recommended his appointment, that he is prepared to take the test.The committee, headed by retired Supreme Court judge Eliezer Goldberg, listed several reasons for the decision: the sensitive nature of the position; a number of complaints it had received about the candidate; and the fact that the other two candidates, Jerusalem District Commander Maj.-Gen. Yoram Halevy and Maj.-Gen. David Bitan had taken polygraph tests.The committee noted that it has held a number of discussions on the matter and had interviewed Erdan, incumbent Police Commissioner Roni Alsheich, as well as Edri himself.While the committee said that it had accepted Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit’s decision that there was no legal impediment to Edri’s appointment, the committee also published a public announcement inviting anyone who has information that could assist the committee to come forward.“This announcement drew many reactions from the public, the vast majority of which praised the candidate, but there were also those who complained about inappropriate behavior on his part,” the committee said.“The committee deemed it appropriate to hear two of the complainants, and also received general information from the Israel Police on the subject of discipline in the organization,” the committee said. It also stated that the test was necessary to ensure that equal conditions had been set for all candidates and to prevent future gossip about the candidate after his expected appointment.The committee will give its opinion regarding Edri’s appointment after the polygraph examination.Last week, public broadcaster KAN reported that retired police officers had appealed to the committee demanding that Edri take a polygraph test.Earlier this month, Mandelblit denied reports that Alsheich
inappropriately sabotaged the candidacies of Halevy and Bitan in favor of Edri by suddenly producing condemnatory information to Mandelblit near the end of the contest.
