We are writing in response to the report that the Northampton Police Department is canceling its participation in a police training program in Israel, in order to express our dismay at the insertion of a political agenda between an American police department and the American citizens it is sworn to protect.
For better or worse, Israeli police have extensive experience with violent acts directed against civilians, and which are fueled by political, ethnic and religious extremism. With distressing regularity, they are called upon to prevent, and if necessary to react, to savage events of bombing, shooting, stabbing and car ramming. Similar acts of unspeakable depravity are occurring with increasing frequency on American soil.
Through many years of such violence, Israel has remained a thriving democracy, characterized by lively political debate, a free press, an independent judiciary and the rule of law. We strongly believe that the sharing of experience among police departments from societies that have common values, and that face common challenges, will lead to more effective policing.
We urge the Northampton Police Department not to permit any organization’s political agenda to interfere with its mission to serve and protect the public. If the city believes that that the Israeli experience has something to offer (and apparently it did believe so until it was lobbied by an external pressure group), then the safety of its citizens should be prioritized ahead of any pressure group’s narrow interests.
Joseph and Marilyn Kushick
Amherst