Public Safety Commissioner Michael Kopy, who was in Israel on October 7, 2023 at the time of the attacks by Hamas and had to evacuate, returned to Israel on September 4 to finally complete the trip. Kopy was part of a delegation of law enforcement heads across the tri-state area invited to a counterterrorism conference by the State of Israel and its Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism. The trip was also coordinated by the Community Security Initiative (CSI), a local program of the United Jewish Appeal (UJA) and Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY) to protect and enhance the security for Jewish communities and institutions in the New York City metropolitan area.
“We visited a number of different locations where terror attacks had occurred,” Kopy told MyRye.com on Friday after returning from an overnight flight “As well we met with government officials responsible for Counter Terrorism measures.”
The group was in Sderot, the site of the Noa festival on the Gazan border, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. They met with various groups, government officials, counter terrorism officials and local government officials who were responsible for responding and coordinating efforts during come of the attacks. Kopy was one of 13 law enforcement officials invited on the trip at no cost. On Thursday before returning home the group attended a 9-11 memorial ceremony in Jerusalem. The trip gained attention of local media in Israel.
