Law enforcement officials, led by Collin County sheriff and deputies, to embark on counter-terrorism training in Israel.
Collin County's sheriff and his deputies are eyeing a counter-terrorism training trip, courtesy of the Israeli National Police, stirring a bit of chatter amongst locals.
At a recent county commissioners meeting, Russell Schaffner – Collin County’s deputy administrator – spilled the beans about the training jaunt, emphasizing it'll be paid for with outside funds. The county crew found it fell outside the Sheriff's Office personnel's scope and duties, so these peacekeepers will be gunning for some R&R – on their own dime, mind you.
But why all the fuss? U.S. law enforcement hopscotching across the Middle East has been a hot-button issue. Organizations like Amnesty International and others have pegged Israeli police for being biased when it comes to human rights.
Details of the upcoming training itinerary remain hush-hush – shared privately with the Collin County commissioners, as per an email from Sheriff Jim Skinner. According to the missive, the training will dabble in public-safety tutorials, leering at Hamas's attacks on October 7, 2023.
Assistant Chief Cary Platt, who runs the Sheriff's reserve program, is footing the bill for the trip, estimated to set them back about $70,000 to $80,000. While Platt numbers among the unpaid volunteers, he's no stranger to law enforcement – he’s been with Collin County Sheriff's Office since 2016, beefing up his resume with Dallas County Sheriff's Office service from 2002 to 2016.
Platt dropped $20,000 in support of Skinner's reelection campaign back in 2023, according to Texas Commission on Law Enforcement records. He lists himself as a self-employed real estate entrepreneur.
The training puppy show happens from June 15-20 and focuses chiefly on public safety – including trainings and lectures.
Skinner boasted the trainings would bring valuable insights to the table and beef up community safety at Monday's commissioners' court meeting. "These guys are the cream of the crop and we're gonna soak up that knowledge to boost our citizens' safety," he said.
Collin County Judge Chris Hill thanked the anonymous sponsor for chipping in for the travel expenses. "Although it’s a personal endeavor, we all get that it'll be a boon for you, law enforcement peeps, and therefore for us, the citizens you serve," Hill quipped.
The ruckus comes hot on the trails of controversy surrounding the proposed Muslim housing development near the East Plano Islamic Center.
The Collin County Sheriff’s Office maintained the training is unattached to any local issues or developments, as outlined in an email statement to KERA.
Regarding the donation, Skinner waved the Texas Attorney General opinions and Section 81.032, Texas Local Governance Code – the legal go-ahead for accepting the gift – in his email to county commissioners.
We reached out to the Collin County Sheriff's Office and Platt for comment but haven't heard squat yet. Stay tuned for updates.
Strapped for cash? Shoot Caroline Love an email at [email protected].
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- The controversy surrounding Collin County's sheriff and his deputies' planned counter-terrorism training trip, funded by an anonymous sponsor, has sparked discussions about public safety, politics, and general-news among the community.
- The upcoming training, focusing on public safety and investigations, has been a point of contention due to concerns about bias in human rights practices by the Israeli National Police, raising questions about the government's role in such decisions.
- Organizations like Amnesty International have expressed concerns about U.S. law enforcement's interactions with international forces, particularly with the Israeli National Police, and the potential impact on public safety within the community.
