Rye Public Safety Commissioner was in Israel at Time of Attacks
Public Safety Commissioner Michael Kopy was in Israel at the time of the attacks by Hamas that began last Saturday. Part of a delegation of law enforcement heads across the tri-state area invited to a conference by the State of Israel, Kopy and the others have returned safely to the United States. Kopy declined comment for this story.
Six law enforcement professionals from Westchester County including Kopy were part of the larger group of 32 professionals. The group flew to Israel last Thursday. They arrived Friday morning and headed to Ashdod on the Mediterranean sea, a 30-minute drive from Gaza, before the conference was schedule to begin in Tel Aviv Saturday. The attack began early Saturday morning.
“A deputy chief investigator from our office is one of six law enforcement leaders from Westchester County among a 32-member New York delegation that traveled to Israel Oct. 5 for an international counterterrorism and antisemitism training,” said Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah on Saturday while the group was still in Israel. “I am in communication with our deputy chief who informed me that though the delegation is close to the Gaza Strip, they are sheltering in a safe location and every effort is underway for their safe return to New York.”
The group sheltered in place in Ashdod until they could be evacuated on Sunday to Dubai. The group arrived safely back in the New York area on Monday. Kopy and his family are inveterate world travelers and have previously traveled to Israel as a family.
