Partners Against Crime
The award-winning Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange (GILEE) is a joint project of Georgia State University and local, state, federal, and international law enforcement and public safety agencies. GILEE’s mission is to enhance law enforcement executive development and international cooperation for the provision of better law enforcement services and public safety through the protection of civil rights. GILEE’s focus has been on anti-terrorism training eversince its establishment in 1992; initially to protect the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games and later to improve preparedness for terror threats. Following the September 11 terrorist atrocity, GILEE focuses on enhancing homeland security efforts through international cooperation and training programs. GILEE’s goal is to provide peer-to-peer professional training through the introduction of principles of community policing and best practices in order to enhance agency capabilities to better deal with threats to public safety and improve security.
Training Opportunities
In partnership with public and corporate sectors as well as civic groups, GILEE offers law enforcement executive development programs by focusing on peer-to-peer on-site training and international cooperation. Top U.S. law enforcement officials participate in peer-to-peer on-site training to learn best practices and the latest technologies in policing and public safety. They learn best practices from expert peers who frequently handle bombings and other terrorist activities, as well as the latest advances in community policing, technology, and homeland security policies. They continue to address other unique crime problems and the need to balance a variety of requests for public safety service through innovative multifaceted partnerships. In return, international delegations come to Georgia to study how the U.S. deals with emergency management, homeland security, violent crime, special events, and the myriad of issues concerning urban and rural policing. Learn more about Executive Leadership Development.
GILEE also provides special public safety and corporate security briefings, seminars, and workshops that facilitate cooperation between law enforcement and corporate security utilizing expert resources in the areas of asset protection, loss prevention, physical security, business continuity, terrorism, active shooting, and cyber-crime.
“What I was most impressed with about the program was learning how the Israeli Police force was trying new ways to bring diversity to their police force and their police leadership. Diversity and representation is one of the main points of contention in American law enforcement. Communities are speaking out about police departments having a balanced representation of the communities they serve. It was eye opening to see those same sentiments were holding true in Israel.
Any law enforcement leader looking to expand their knowledge base and experience once in a lifetime memorable moments, this program is top notch.” Read More
Jason P. Armstrong, Chief, Ferguson Police Department, Missouri (2019 – 2021)
“One of our greatest challenges in American policing is serving a community that is vastly more diverse than the local police department. Comparatively, the Israeli police are responsible for serving a variety of demographics. I was impressed by the level of community policing efforts employed by the Israeli Police to build relationships and maintain peace among such diverse populations. The mentor shadowing was considerably inimitable and having the opportunity to observe the daily operation of a station and its command staff was enlightening. Although generally ensuring public safety was important, understanding the concerns of the community was equally significant.” Read more
Rodney Bryant, Chief, Atlanta Police Department (2020 – 2023)
“What I was most impressed with about the program was learning how the Israeli Police force was trying new ways to bring diversity to their police force and their police leadership. Diversity and representation is one of the main points of contention in American law enforcement. Communities are speaking out about police departments having a balanced representation of the communities they serve. It was eye opening to see those same sentiments were holding true in Israel.
Any law enforcement leader looking to expand their knowledge base and experience once in a lifetime memorable moments, this program is top notch.” Read More
Jason P. Armstrong, Chief, Ferguson Police Department, Missouri
Recipient of IACP’s 40 under 40 award
“One of our greatest challenges in American policing is serving a community that is vastly more diverse than the local police department,” Bryant wrote. “Comparatively, the Israeli police are responsible for serving a variety of demographics. I was impressed by the level of community policing efforts employed by the Israeli Police to build relationships and maintain peace among such diverse populations. The mentor shadowing was considerably inimitable and having the opportunity to observe the daily operation of a station and its command staff was enlightening. Although generally ensuring public safety was important, understanding the concerns of the community was equally significant.”
Rodney Bryant, Acting Chief, Atlanta Police Department
Training Opportunities
In partnership with public and corporate sectors as well as civic groups, GILEE offers law enforcement executive development programs by focusing on peer-to-peer on-site training and international cooperation. GILEE trains top U.S. law enforcement officials in Israel and in other countries to learn valuable security tactics from their counterparts. They learn best practices from expert peers who frequently handle bombings and other terrorist activities that are increasingly becoming serious threats all over the world. In return, international delegations come to Georgia to study how the U.S. deals with emergency management, homeland security, violent crime, special events, and the myriad of issues concerning urban and rural policing.
GILEE also provides special public safety and corporate security briefings, seminars, and workshops that facilitate cooperation between law enforcement and corporate security utilizing expert resources in the areas of asset protection, loss prevention, physical security, business continuity, terrorism, active shooting, and cyber-crime.
Vernon M. Keenan Director, Georgia Bureau of Investigation (2003 - 2019)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Addressing disinformation and misinformation
GILEE does not provide tactical training to line officers. GILEE is not a police agency nor a police academy. GILEE is a professional leadership development program that focuses on education and intercultural exposure.
GILEE does not train with any country’s military. Programs provided by GILEE are done in cooperation with national/local police departments to provide a peer-to-peer experiential learning environment.
- Principles of GILEE programs are based on the concept of community policing. GILEE’s Founding Director established the definition of community policing in his book in 1992: Community policing is a policy and a strategy aimed at achieving more effective and efficient crime control, reduced fear of crime, improved quality of life, improved police services and police legitimacy, through a proactive reliance on community resources that seeks to change crime causing conditions. This assumes a need for greater accountability of police, greater public share in decision making, and greater concern for civil rights and liberties (Friedmann, 1992). The 1992 definition was adopted by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and various other police associations. Read about how GILEE bridges the gap between police and their communities
GILEE adheres to and promotes the values of justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, excellence, innovation, leadership, partnerships, and professionalism. The participation of minority groups in GILEE programs are higher than the national percentages of minority groups representation in law enforcement leadership positions. GILEE strives to enhance public safety by nurturing existing and new partnerships within and across public agencies and the private sector and has been recognized by local, national and international law enforcement professional associations and governments for making significant contributions to public safety and professional development.
All of GILEE’s funding comes from external sources. No financial support comes from Georgia State University or the Georgia State University Foundation. No student tuition or student fees are allocated by Georgia State University to GILEE.
Participants are law enforcement leaders who are selected through a competitive process to maximize participant and agency benefits.
GILEE exposes senior leaders to leadership dilemmas and situations to explore better ways to serve their communities and enhance public safety.
Giving
GILEE has a measurable impact and the demand for our programs continues to grow in Georgia, around the nation and overseas. GILEE’s objectives focus on peer-to-peer law enforcement executive development, public-private partnerships, and on international cooperation. GILEE’s extensive community partnerships provide tangible benefits to the law enforcement community, to corporate security, to the business community and to the community at large. To date, GILEE has carried out over 300 programs for more than 1,300 law enforcement and other executives. GILEE also provided more than 300 professional special briefings, seminars, workshops, training sessions and conferences featuring more than 1,000 expert speakers and trainers on issues related to homeland security, public safety, community policing and law enforcement to more than 45,000 officers, public safety and corporate security officials in or from 23 states and 12 countries.
GILEE has a 501(C)3 organizational status through the Georgia State University Foundation.