Deputy police commissioner Benzi Sau named acting chief

Israel Police Deputy Commissioner Benzi Sau, who currently serves as the Tel Aviv district commander, will serve as interim head of the Israel Police, replacing police chief Yohanan Danino, who will be completing his term of service next week, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan announced Thursday.

Sau’s term as interim police chief is to begin on July 1. It will last until September 1 or until a permanent replacement is found.

His previous positions include Central District commander, head of the Policing and Security Department, and Border Police staff commander.

Erdan is keeping mum about who he will choose as Danino’s successor.

Israel’s police force has recently been wracked by a series of high-profile corruption and sexual harassment scandals, and Erdan has indicated that he may seek to appoint as the next commissioner a figure from outside the Israel Police.

Among those suspected of corruption is Yaakov Lopez, the head of the prosecution division at the Israel Police’s Lahav 433 serious crimes unit, who was sent to house arrest on Thursday; Deputy Commissioner Nissim Mor, who was suspended in January after allegations emerged that he had sexually assaulted a subordinate officer; former Jerusalem district police chief Nissan “Niso” Shaham, dismissed in late 2013 over allegations of sexual harassment, breach of trust, fraud and indecent acts; and top anti-corruption police official Menashe Arviv, who resigned in 2014 amid allegations that he had received thousands of dollars and other assistance from a rabbi accused of corruption.