Chief Dan Greathouse of the Thomaston Police Department has just returned from Israel from a two-week training program to study counterterrorism, emergency management and other types of policing strategies from Israeli police.

The 17-member delegation of law enforcement officials received the training through the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange (GILEE).

The exchange program, which was founded in 1992 by Dr. Robert Friedman in the Georgia State University Department of Criminal Justice, provides senior law enforcement officers with professional training opportunities in policing techniques from peers abroad.

This year, the delegation included state and local law enforcement officials representing a variety of Georgia communities, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Assistant Commissioner Mark Zadra and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Deputy Director R. Jeffrey Puckett.

“Despite the appearance that no major terrorist attacks have taken place in the U.S. since 9/11, law enforcement and public safety agencies know that serious threats are still there and they are eager to learn from their Israeli counterparts about their experience and benefit from their expertise,” said Dr. Friedman.

“This will enhance the sharing of information, technology, tactics and strategies between law enforcement agencies and their close allies.

“American law enforcement leaders value the Israeli willingness to assist.”

This marks the 16th delegation of Georgia law enforcement officers to visit Israel through the GILEE exchange program.