Police officially promote woman to rank of assistant chief
Gila Gaziel's appointment follows a vow by Danino to bring more female officers into the top ranks of the police.
By BEN HARTMAN
Officer Gila Gaziel was promoted on Sunday to the rank of assistant chief, becoming the highest-ranking woman and second highest rank of the Israel Police. She is positioned at the head the law enforcement agency’s Manpower Branch.Gaziel’s appointment follows a vow by Danino to bring more female officers into the top ranks, during a series of sex scandals that have caused great harm to the agency’s public image.The 54-year-old mother of three is a resident of Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut. She is a 27-year veteran of the Israel Police and has an master’s in education. She has spent most of her career working in the Manpower Branch.“This moment has come because of your experience, abilities, talent and mainly – your personality. You are the national and right choice for the organization,” Danino said as he presented the promotion on Sunday.According to police figures from 2014, there were six women with the rank of assistant commissioner – the third-highest in the police force as well as 24 commanders and 91 chief superintendents.Gaziel was among four senior officers who received promotions at the ceremony held at the headquarters of the Public Security Ministry in Jerusalem.Asst.-Ch. Bentzi Sau, head of the Tel Aviv District, was appointed the interim deputy police chief; Asst.- Ch. Yaron Beeri, head of the Manpower Division, was given command of the National Traffic Branch; and Asst.-Ch. Shlomi Michael, head of the police Counterterrorism Unit, was put in authority over the Judea and Samaria Police District.