Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch recently spent 16 days in Israel as part of a public
safety leadership training experience with Israel’s top police executives.
The program is coordinated by the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange (GILEE), a
research center within Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. Sheriff
Couch was among 17 Georgia police chiefs, sheriffs, command staff and a deputy director of the
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation who traveled to Israel.
Sheriff Couch said he and the rest of the delegation were able to travel to various locations in Israel,
including the border with war-torn Gaza. His experience gave him newfound appreciation for Israeli law
enforcement.
“The police force in Israel faces challenges on a daily basis we can only imagine here in the United
States. The Israeli Police agency suffered great losses during the course of the October 2023
terrorist attack with more than 60 killed defending their communities,” Sheriff Couch said. “I was
extremely impressed with the level of professionalism they maintained while functioning in a
virtual war zone with threats on all sides.”
The Sheriff said he also witnessed the strength of the Israeli people during his visit.
“I gained a deep appreciation for the country and its resilient people during a time of war. Despite
facing ongoing challenges and threats from several terrorist groups, the Israelis exhibit remarkable
strength and determination,” Sheriff Couch said. “My time there was a valuable learning
experience.”
More than 1,300 law enforcement executives from the U.S. and countries around the world have
graduated from GILEE peer-to-peer exchange programs in several countries and Georgia during its
33 years. Additionally, more than 45,000 public safety, homeland security and police executives
have attended GILEE-led special briefings, seminars, workshops, training sessions and conferences
featuring experts on issues related to homeland security, public safety, community policing and law
enforcement.
The trip ($10,000) was paid for with money from HCSO’s Equitable Sharing Fund, which is built from seized drug money. The airline flights and baggage fees ($509) came from the agency’s travel training funds.