Cartersville Resident Learns Counterterrorism Skills in Israel

Staff Report

Cartersville resident Robert Stevens, a captain in the Sandy Spring Police Department, recently returned from Israel after spending two weeks learning new public safety techniques and technologies.

He was one of 16 senior Georgia public safety officials in training led by Israel police officers experienced in counterterrorism measures.

Stevens participated in the 22nd annual peer-to-peer public safety training exchange organized by the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange (GILEE).

Police officers from Atlanta, Conyers, Pine Lake, Pooler, Sandy Springs, Rome and Tifton joined sheriffs from Fulton, Rockdale and Telfair counties along with delegates from the state’s departments of corrections, investigation, natural resources and public safety. They were also joined by a special agent in charge from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

GILEE advances public safety knowledge among practitioners through these exchanges and by hosting conferences and public safety experts that introduce new and best practices in law enforcement. 

The goal is to enhance the capabilities of police and public safety to better deal with threats to safety and security in Georgia and communities around the globe.

Since its founding, GILEE has built a critical network of more than 1,200 law enforcement officials – more than half in Georgia – through more than 290 training exchanges in 32 states and 20 countries. 

More than 20,000 public and private leaders in law enforcement and public safety have attended GILEE’s special briefings, seminars and workshops. And GILEE has assisted Olympic security efforts around the world.