Hennepin County Sheriff Attending Counterterrorism Training in Israel

Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek of Maple Grove is currently overseas in Israel, attending an international counterterrorism program.

Dubbed "2012 Law Enforcement Mission to Israel," the program is intended to provide attendees with a better understanding of homeland security and countering violent extremism that impacts both Israel and the U.S. The program includes discussions with Israeli government officials, military officers and leading academics, in addition to discussions regarding emergency preparedness from Israeli first responders including police, rescue and bomb disposal.

"I appreciate the opportunity to build partnerships and learn best practices from first responders who are experienced in national security challenges,” Stanek said, in a release. "Threats of domestic and international terrorism make it important for local law enforcement to develop contingency plans and learn innovative approaches to prevent and to respond to homeland security threats and emergencies.”

The program is made possible by the American Israel Education Foundation, which provides all funding for participants in an effort to education leaders in the U.S. about U.S.-Israel relations and other issues in the Middle East.

Prior to departing for Israel, Stanek met with members of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota & the Dakotas to discuss common missions, including issues of security.

Stanek is currently serving as president of the Major County Sheriffs' Association, is a member of the Board of Directors for the National Sheriffs' Association and chairs the NSA Homeland Security Committee. He previously served on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Interagency Threat Assessment and Coordination Group (ITACG), which allows for the sharing of terrorism-related information under a Presidential directive.