Police considering promotion for officer who shot a citizen in the Sharon region amid legal proceedings
Major Ohad Goldberg, who shot a man in the back after mistaking a gas station dispute for a robbery, avoided a criminal conviction in court, receiving only community service. The Police Internal Investigations Department (Mahash) has appealed the ruling. Despite the ongoing case, police command continues to praise the officer's performance and is evaluating his promotion.
The police are evaluating the potential promotion of Major Ohad Goldberg, son of the former head of the police human resources division, retired Major General Boaz Goldberg, even as the Police Internal Investigations Department (Mahash) has appealed a court decision not to convict him following his admission of recklessness and negligence.
Goldberg, commander of the crime-fighting unit in the Sharon region, admitted to shooting a citizen in the back during an arrest at a Yellow store at a gas station in Kibbutz Bahan (Hefer Valley) on December 30, 2023. Goldberg claimed he intervened after observing a person behaving aggressively toward a store clerk, believing a robbery was in progress. While the individual had his back to the registers, Goldberg, armed with an M16, pinned him to the floor. While the man was lying on the ground, Goldberg placed his hand on the man's neck and shot him in the back.
The Magistrate's Court in Kfar Saba opted not to convict the officer, imposing 100 hours of community service, a probation order, and 5,000 shekels in compensation to the victim. Three months ago, Mahash filed an appeal to the Central District Court in Lod, arguing that the lower court erred both in its decision to withhold a conviction and in the leniency of the sentence.
In the appeal, Mahash stated:
"The complainant was lying with his hands on his neck 'in a state of surrender', without posing any risk, while the weapon was aimed at him. Handling an arrest in such a negligent manner, in a way that creates a real risk to human life, constitutes a serious deviation from the standard of behavior expected of the police in general - and from the respondent in particular, given his professional experience."
Parallel to the legal proceedings, police leadership is reviewing Goldberg's promotion track. In a letter, Central District Commander Major General Amir Cohen noted that a discussion would be held shortly to decide whether to advance the officer. Cohen addressed the shooting, noting it occurred two months into the war when forces were on maximum alert, and that the officer acted alone in a high-pressure, uncertain situation.
The District Commander praised Goldberg, stating:
"He is a high-quality officer, who strives for contact. A professional who serves as a personal example to his subordinates and is as humane as they come."
Cohen further clarified that had it not been for the Mahash appeal, he would have already acted to promote the officer to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. However, he added that due to the appeal, a promotion decision is currently impossible, and that a conviction would ultimately disqualify the officer from advancement.
