Police mull legal aid for officers ‘shamed’ on social media

Israel Police Commissioner Roni Alsheich is reportedly considering establishing legal aid mechanisms to help police officers who face complaints and lawsuits.

Alsheich is expected to appoint a committee within the police to examine the feasibility of offering officers assistance when they sue civilians who publish defamatory posts against them on social media, as well as the possibility of establishing a special legal defense unit for officers who are sued, the Haaretz daily reported on Wednesday.

The committee’s establishment would follow widespread complaints from officers that they are often the target of social media “shaming” from civilians who wish to avenge a perceived slight or mistreatment by police.

The committee will reportedly consist of three members: a former judge, a former IDF advocate general and the outgoing head of the police operations department. According to Haaretz, the committee will examine other large state agencies’ policies related to protecting employees in legal disputes connected to their jobs.

Also on Wednesday, Alsheich spoke at the Herzliya Conference in defense of the controversial sexual harassment policy he instituted over the past year in the police force.

Last year, Alsheich announced that the police would no longer investigate anonymous harassment complaints against cops from within the organization, arguing that “anonymous letters [of complaint] have turned into a culture of vendettas within the police.”

The move has drawn a great deal of criticism from advocacy groups, which warn that many officers are wary of complaining publicly because of potential social and career fallout. Further fueling the controversy was the fact that it came as a significant number of senior officers were ousted from the police over accusations of sexual impropriety.

Instead of anonymous complaints, Alsheich instituted a twice-yearly “work review” process that piggybacks on already existing security checks cops undergo regularly. The reviews are interviews in which officers are asked about their behavior and that of colleagues that might infringe on what is appropriate or legal for police officers.

“This both deters and identifies irregularities. It means [officers] don’t need to file complaints, so I’m happy to say our situation is good,” Alsheich said.