Interview with [Former] General Commissioner of the Israel Police – Roni Alsheich

Abstract

Roni Alsheich, was appointed as Commissioner of the Israel National Police (INP) in 2015 after having served as the Deputy Head of the General Security Services. With the INP having suffered from increasing criticism in the preceding years, Alsheich's goal was to introduce broad evidence based reforms, especially in the areas of prevention and problem-oriented policing. In this interview we follow his experience as commissioner to overcome the obstacles in instituting Evidence Based Policing (EBP). Alsheich took upon himself the role of “evidence cop” who is tasked with facilitating translation of research into practice. By successfully leading this process as the commissioner, Alsheich was not only an evidence-cop, but a “super evidence-cop.” Alsheich understood that the INP was more likely to succeed in implementing “total EBP” which would continue also after his departure, only if he, as the commissioner, directly engaged in a methodical and effective strategy of creating the foundations and circumstances required for complete integration of EBP into the police force.