Israel National Police
Police Unit y Tour
Going a long way
The riders from the Israel National Police came nearly 6,000
miles but could not make it the last 50 or so to complete the Uni-
ty Tour. The tour culminated with most of the 2,800 participants
cycling in to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial on
May 12. A Saturday.
Because Saturday was Shabbat, the Jewish sabbath, the 14 riders
from the Israel National Police could not make the ride because of
their religious custom to observe it as a day of rest. So they stood
with the thousands who packed the Memorial who cheered as the
Tour arrived.
But the 14 officers from the Israel National Police still experi-
enced all the honor and emotion the Tour generates, and they re-
turned home with something that went above and beyond 6,000
miles.
“In October, we are going to have our own tour and we would like
everybody to come,” announced Yoni Zeitak, Chief Superintendent
Operations and Patrol Commander for the Israel National Police,
who rode the Unity Tour for the second time. “We will ride from
our new police academy in Jerusalem and see the sights through-
out our country.”
Zeitak said the Israeli officers were inspired by the hospitality
from Chapters 37 and 1, especially Bergen County Sheriff’s Depart-
ment Local 134, who hosted them this year. He added that conver-
sation along the route and during overnight breaks included shar-
ing ideas for policing, especially how to deal with terrorist threats
that have increased in the U.S. during the past 10 years but have
been a way of life in Israel for more than 50 years.
The Israeli team riders said they had to give it their all to keep up
with their U.S. sisters and brothers. And these are women and men
who each had to endure lengthy military service before joining the
national police.
“I must say they are very professional, and they are all in very
good shape, very, very fit,” Zeitak described. “I know when they are
called out, your citizens get the very best, the very finest.”
National Police Major General Mosh Baraket was the ranking
Mercer County Conference
The members of the Israel National Police who rode the 2018 Police Unity
Tour.
The Israel National Police Offi cers at the Candlelight Vigil.
officer with the team that trained rigorously to ride the Tour. The
reward for their commitment was more than worth the effort.
“When we went through the towns and the cities, people were
waving and saying thank you and it was amazing,” shared Officer
Azari, who is part of a unit in the Dunn District of Tel Aviv. “It’s such
an unusual experience for us. We don’t have something like this in
Israel. There is so much appreciation for the cops. And I’m not used
to that.”
Strength in numbers
It doesn’t get much bigger than this at the Police Unity Tour.
The group from the Mercer County Conference riding with
Chapter 10 included nearly 50 members from Trenton Local 11,
Hamilton Township Local 66, Ewing Township Local 111 and
several other Locals in the county.
Team Mercer gathered for a photo when all the riders arrived
at RFK Stadium on May 12 to stage for the procession to the Na-
tional Law Enforcement Memorial. Once the procession began,
the Mercer County line of riders stretched nearly a full block as
they made their way into the Memorial.
Mitchell Krugel
46
NEW JERSEY COPS
■ JUNE 2018
Mitchell Krugel