Israel’s Civil Service Commissioner has ruled that a police officer charged with killing a teenager of Ethiopian descent in 2019 cannot remain as a Public Servant.
The officer, who was not named, was recently reinstated by the Israel Police.
When that caused a public outcry, especially among member of Israel’s Ethiopian community, the officer was moved to the Fire Department.
Now the Commissioner, Daniel Hershkowitz (pictured) says it is unacceptable for the officer to return to any sort of public duty while still on trial.
“The Civil Service continues to have high standards and values and public responsibility as a goal,” Mr Hershkowitz said.
“We need to take this into account when evaluating a candidate, especially if he has a criminal past or is currently facing criminal charges,” he said.
The officer, whose name is barred by a court order, is accused of recklessly causing the death of Solomon Tekah (19) by firing a bullet at the ground — from where it bounced and hit the teen — rather than firing warning shots in the air.
According to an investigation, the off-duty officer, who was with his children, intervened after his wife noticed that some teenagers had taken money from another boy.
The Officer then alerted the police hotline to the alleged theft, but the dispatched police car was delayed.
The Ministry of Justice’s Police Internal Investigations Department said that while the officer was in danger at the time, it was not life-threatening and under no circumstances should he have fired at the ground.
He has been charged with negligent homicide, which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison.
Following the Commissioner’s announcement, Mr Tekah’s father, Worka, said that for now he was satisfied and called for restraint from the Ethiopian community.
Jerusalem, 19 February 2021
