Tel Aviv police foot patrol to secure coast for tourists and citizens
Five units consisting of 38 officers will patrol beaches and hotels, focusing on issues of violence, drug and alcohol use, public order and crime.
By ELIYAHU KAMISHERUpdated: JULY 7, 2017 01:44Officers in the newly inaugurated foot patrol unit on Thursday in Tel Aviv. (photo credit: ELIYAHU KAMISHER)
A new police unit tasked with patrolling the beaches in Bat Yam, Tel Aviv and Herzliya, will bring a “dramatic change” to those areas – longknown for high levels of theft – police officials said at the unit’s inauguration ceremony in Tel Aviv on Thursday.Five units totaling 38 officers will patrol beaches and hotels, focusing on issues of violence, drug and alcohol use, public order and crime.“Our central goal is to ensure the feeling of safety for the citizens,” the unit’s founder, Supt. Avi Ohayon, told The Jerusalem Post. According to Ohayon, the unit will soon be expanded to include 52 officers who will work alongside municipal inspectors.The officers underwent an intensive, week-long English language class in order to meet the demands of patrolling areas frequented by international tourists. There are also 11 Arabic- speaking officers in the unit.(The foot patrol unit’s founder, Superintendent Avi Ohayon)Officers will patrol on bikes, Segway transporters and on foot. The bike unit is equipped with advanced, all-terrain electric bicycles. The Segways are similarly equipped with special equipment.“The revolution of the police is continuing. And now, in the most crowded place in the summer – the beaches,” Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said at Thursday’s ceremony. He added that the patrols will travel to crowded areas throughout the country at those times when the need is greatest to increase the public’s safety as well as their sense of security.“Nothing’s better than working in the sun,” one foot-patrol officer told Police Commissioner Insp.-Gen. Roni Alsheich and Erdan while they toured with the new unit.
