Police Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai on Sunday awarded a special commendation of excellence to the Border Police Special Forces Unit for its operations in 2020.
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The Border Police Undercover Counterterrorism Unit was also honored.
Both elite units, as well as several other police units, receive commendations based on their performance in the fields of crime-fighting, counterterrorism, civil service, and functional prominence.
Chief Superintendent A, deputy commander of the Border Police Special Forces Unit told Israel Hayom that the unit "is the tip of the spear. Out troops handle the most complex [security] situations in Israel and are routinely deployed to high-risk assignments.
"For us, excellence is a primary value and we aim for it constantly. Awards and citations are a byproduct and lends the officers added value, but you have to remember that the public only knows of about 10% of the operations. The other 90% of the time we operate under the radar."
According to A, special forces carry out about 300 operations a year, the majority of which are classified as high-complexity, high-risk missions.
"We're trained to operate as a national-level unit with respect of crime-fighting, counterterrorism," he added. "The troops are ready to counter any scenario, be it on the borders or in urban [centers] and our tactics and training have been adapted accordingly."
Border Police Commander Amir Cohen expressed his appreciation for the unit, saying, "I'm proud of you and I recognize your important contribution."
He further lauded the troops' personal sacrifice: "Special forces mean that officers are willing to lay down their lives to serve the country, state security, and the public."
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