Background
In preparations to secure the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia State University and the law enforcement community established the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange (GILEE). The program, established in May of 1992, was given three objectives:
- To enhance inter-agency cooperation between State of Georgia law enforcement agencies and the police force of the State of Israel
- To offer an educational professional program to senior Israeli law enforcement officials in Georgia, primarily in the area of community policing
- To offer an educational professional program to senior Georgia law enforcement officials in Israel, primarily in the areas of counter-terrorism and drug interdiction
After the 1996 Olympic Games GILEE has expanded to offer programs in additional states and additional countries.
Impact
GILEE’s extensive community partnerships provide tangible benefits to the participating law enforcement executives and to the law enforcement agencies they lead or represent, to law enforcement professional associations, to corporate security, to the business community and to the community at large.
Mission
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 ever since 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 best practices in order to enhance agency capabilities to better deal with threats to public safety and improve security.