Retired Israeli Police Officers Accuse Police of Neglecting Injured Veterans After Service

Retired Israeli police officers injured during their service have accused the police Human Resources Department of discrimination, claiming they lose access to support and care once they retire. In a letter addressed to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Police Commissioner Danny Levi, and senior HR officials, the retirees criticized the disparity between active officers and veterans regarding medical and emotional support. They highlighted that while active officers receive ongoing assistance, retirees, even those injured in the line of duty, are left without adequate care.

The letter references the creation of a WhatsApp group intended for injured police officers, which initially included retirees but was later restricted to active personnel only. The author, a retiree who served 35 years including 10 years after being injured, expressed frustration over this exclusion, questioning why retirees are made to feel included only to be later disregarded.

Despite previous meetings and promises from HR leadership to provide equal treatment to all injured officers regardless of their status, these commitments have not been fulfilled. Proposed initiatives such as peer support systems for injured retirees have not materialized. The letter also notes that officers lose access to resilience centers and other support frameworks upon retirement, even if their injuries occurred during service.

The retiree called on Minister Ben-Gvir to intervene and mandate equal treatment and support for all injured police officers, active and retired alike. The letter strongly criticized the HR department's handling of the issue, urging a shift from rhetoric about values to concrete action. The Israel Police has yet to respond to these allegations.