Top policeman quits over improper relationship

A top police commander announced his resignation on Saturday after admitting to having an improper relationship with a subordinate.

Judea and Samaria District Commander Kobi Cohen was questioned on Thursday by Police’s Internal Investigations Department over suspicions that he had maintained romantic ties with a low-ranking female officer, and had made decisions regarding her positions that were based on a conflict of interest.

Cohen admitted to the allegations and asked to be relieved from duty in the coming days, saying he did not wish the affair to reflect badly upon the force.

His resignation was accepted by Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino who thanked Cohen for his work and expressed regret for the circumstances in which he would end his service, but said that Cohen’s resignation was “the necessary action” given the allegations.

Cohen joins an increasingly long line of top police officials who recently left the force under troubling circumstances: former Jerusalem district police chief Nissim “Niso” Shaham, who was fired in late 2013 over allegations of sexual harassment, breach of trust, fraud and indecent acts; top anti-corruption police official Menashe Arviv who left in 2014 over allegations that he received thousands of dollars and other assistance from a rabbi accused of corruption; and central district chief Bruno Stein who resigned after he was spotted at a party thrown by Ronel Fisher, an Israeli attorney under investigation for allegedly bribing multiple police officials.