Major Rafanelli has returned home from Israel after spending two weeks participating in public safety leadership training with top police executives.

Major Rafanelli was part of a delegation of 17 police professionals that participated in the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange’s (GILEE) 31^st annual peer-to-peer executive training.  GILEE is recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Treasury as a police education program that enhances public safety in the communities its delegates serve by sharing practices in homeland security and community policing.  The exchange is one of several global professional exchanges that GILEE hosts each year.

The program exposes delegates to policing systems under different cultures, legal systems, and structures to enhance their leadership development.  The Israel delegation learned strategies to successfully lead law enforcement programs and personnel, as well as community policing strategies.  The group was also able to pay tribute to Israeli Police Commander Jear Davidov, who was a 2022 GILEE graduate who was killed during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.

Major Rafanelli said, “My time with the GILEE Organization was transformative, I formed lasting bonds with the other participants, as well as several Israeli police leaders.” 

More than 1,300 law enforcement executives from the United States and countries around the world have graduated from GILEE peer-to-peer exchange programs.  In addition, more than 45,000 public safety, homeland security, and police executives have attended GILEE-led special briefings, seminars, workshops, training sessions and conferences.