Legal aid for officer accused of shooting car thief

Police chief: F.-Snt. Bora Ratzon, who is being investigated by Justice Ministry for death of east J'lem car theif, is to receive assistance.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
Shooting (photo credit: [Channel 10])
Shooting
(photo credit: [Channel 10])
F.-Snt. Bora Ratzon, who is being investigated by the Justice Ministry's Criminal Investigations Department for the shooting death of an east Jerusalem alleged car thief, is to receive legal assistance from the Israel Police, Insp.-Gen. David Cohen announced on Thursday.
Ratzon has said that the shooting was accidental, and that the bullet was accidentally discharged from his handgun when he unloaded his firearm on Tuesday.
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The Israel Police runs a committee headed by deputy police chief Cmdr. Ilan Franco which weighs requests for legal assistance from officers.
"The case in which Ratzon was involved meets the criteria of legal assistance," police said.
On Tuesday, police said two Tel Aviv patrol officers working to thwart car theft in the Tzahala neighborhood of north Tel Aviv spotted "a gang of four suspects, residents of east Jerusalem, handling three stolen vehicles."
"Officers stormed the suspects and arrested three of them, while the fourth escaped. During the arrest, a bullet was accidentally discharged from the handgun of an officer which struck one of the suspects," police added. The officer under investigation is, a veteran policeman described by colleagues as "esteemed and professional."
"This is a sad incident which underlines the complex reality dealt with by officers on a daily basis," Cohen said on Thursday. "Officers are guided by clear values, and attempt to engage law breakers as part of their duty to safeguard the safety and property of citizens," he added.