Police Investigator Kept Post After Misusing Sensitive Surveillance System
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
A senior Israeli Police investigator in Lahav 433 was reprimanded and demoted for one month after using the "Hawk Eye" surveillance system to assist his sister with a car purchase. Despite the prosecution's arguments about the severity of the misuse of sensitive police data, the disciplinary tribunal considered the investigator's long service and positive recommendations from superiors. The investigator will remain in his sensitive role, facing a NIS 1,000 salary reduction and a suspended demotion.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- A senior Lahav 433 investigator misused the "Hawk Eye" surveillance system for personal reasons.
- The investigator checked details on a car his sister planned to buy and shared the information.
- He received a severe reprimand and a one-month demotion, but kept his job.
- The disciplinary tribunal cited his long service and positive recommendations in its lenient sentencing.
- The incident highlights concerns over police use of sensitive technological tools and databases.
A senior investigator in the Lahav 433 unit of the Israel Police received a severe reprimand and a one-month demotion after misusing the sensitive "Hawk Eye" surveillance system to check details about a car his sister intended to purchase. The investigator, whose name is withheld due to the sensitivity of his role, admitted to using the system, which tracks vehicle movements via license plate recognition, to obtain information for his sister and then shared the findings with her. This incident comes amid ongoing public criticism of the police's use of technological tools and sensitive databases, particularly following the Pegasus spyware scandal.
Despite the prosecution emphasizing the severity of the offense, arguing it constituted a breach of trust and damaged public confidence, the disciplinary tribunal opted for a lenient sentence. This decision was influenced by the investigator's admission of guilt, his 20 years of unblemished service, and positive testimonies from two senior officers, including a deputy commissioner. They described him as an outstanding, professional, and dedicated investigator capable of handling complex cases.
The investigator explained that he used "Hawk Eye" because it was the system he regularly accessed for work and had open on his computer. The tribunal, presided over by Judge Nissim Kahlon, acknowledged the seriousness of exploiting police databases for personal reasons, especially with advancing technology. However, they also gave weight to the investigator's remorse, his long service record, and the endorsements from his commanders.
As a result, the investigator was given a severe reprimand, a one-month demotion, and a three-month suspended demotion for one year. The demotion is estimated to reduce his gross salary by approximately NIS 1,000. Crucially, the investigator will remain in his position within Lahav 433, a unit handling some of the police's most sensitive investigations.
The same event, reported separately by each outlet. Open a few to compare what different newsrooms emphasize — and what they leave out.
Centre 1Right 1
