Police commander indicted for allegedly hiring paramour as personal assistant

State prosecutors file an indictment against Cdr. Avi Cohen, a senior police officer formerly stationed in Jerusalem, accusing him of hiring as his personal assistant a former officer with whom he had a romantic relationship.

He is charged in the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court with breach of trust and obstruction of justice.

According to prosecutors, Cohen, while serving as commander of the David Region in the Jerusalem District, began a romantic relationship with a younger female officer who had been conscripted into the police.

When she was later discharged from the force, Cohen allegedly recommended she be re-recruited under his command and work as his personal assistant — which prosecutors say is a blatant conflict of interest that he concealed from his superiors.

She began working in the position in September 2024, but within a month rumors began to swirl around the relationship. An anonymous letter was sent regarding the alleged conflict of interest, which was then picked up by local media.

Fearing legal repercussions, Cohen allegedly deleted the texts between him and the younger officer, leading prosecutors to accuse him of obstructing justice on top of the initial allegations.

“The defendant’s actions, and the conflict of interest he was involved in… significantly harmed police officers’ trust in their commanders, as well as public trust in the police,” prosecutors write in the indictment filed today.