FAYETTEVILLE, NC (WNCN) – Captain Christopher Joyce of the Fayetteville Police Department attended a two-week public safety leadership training in Israel with the best police officers in this country.

Joyce was one of 16 senior law enforcement officials who attended the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange (GILEE) 28th annual executive training program, according to a press release from Fayetteville Police.

Law enforcement officials from Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Colorado attended.

In partnership with the Israel Police, they were introduced to the best practices and the latest technologies in law enforcement and public safety.

The delegation, led by GILEE Founding Director Robbie Friedmann and GILEE Associate Director Brent Cummings, focused on continuity of service and community policing.

They recognized how hundreds of thousands of U.S. police officers served on the front lines during the pandemic and times of social unrest and discovered more strategies for successfully leading continuous and uninterrupted law enforcement services while establishing Stronger, safer and better community relations across the community, the police said in a press release.

GILEE professor emeritus and founding director Robbie Friedmann said community policing recognizes the need “for greater accountability, more public participation in decision-making and greater concern. for civil rights and freedoms, ”said the press release.

“GILEE facilitates peer-to-peer professional development programs that create better networks among law enforcement professionals, enabling enhanced public safety and improved community policing in Georgia, the United States and around the world,” said Cummings. “Law enforcement officials learn by experiencing firsthand how other police officers in a variety of cultures, which fosters growth and enlightenment on new ways of approaching challenges at home, improving communities in which we all live. “

The statement said more than 1,100 public security officials participated in the program in Israel. Over 40,000 people have participated in other GILEE trainings, briefings, seminars and workshops.

“The opportunity to offer this leadership training focused on community policing solutions is a great asset to our city,” said Gina V. Hawkins, Chief of the Fayetteville Police Department. “We are always looking for the best training for our leaders to keep our community safe. “

“The Israel National Police have been great working with them and have a focused approach to community policing,” said Captain Joyce. “They strive to foster relationships within the communities they serve and that was evident when we walked through the neighborhoods with them. It was a rewarding opportunity to be abroad and witness the professionalism and similarities that we share in police services.