Officer Accused of Causing Salomon Taka's Death Returns to Police Israel today

The incoming Coastal District Commander, Superintendent Yoram Sofer, has announced that the police officer will return to work, and he is expected to serve as a police officer in the Coastal District • The officer's defense attorney: "Congratulations on the decision"

Coastal District Police Chief who took office this week, Superintendent Yoram Sofer, today (Thursday) ordered the return of the officer accused of negligently causing the death of the boy Salomon Teka about a year and a half ago, and informed him of his decision. 

The trial of the police officer who shot at Salomon Teka // Archive photo: Shmuel Buharis

The officer will serve as an operations officer at one of the Coast District police stations, and will return to work with the police in the coming days.

The defense attorney for the officer, Adv. Yair Nadshi: "We welcome the decision."

The Taka family has not yet responded.

As you may recall, the incident that ignited a great deal of anger among members of the Ethiopian community in many places in the country, took place on June 30, 2019 near a municipal park in Haifa. 

The indictment states that the police officer negligently caused the death of the late Taka. According to the facts of the indictment, his negligence was mainly manifested in the fact that he fired at the asphalt, and did not content himself with warning shots in the air to neutralize the danger he faced. Taka was killed by a bullet.

Photo: Ministry of Justice

The decision took into account the fact that the officer was at the scene with his family, was attacked with stones by Teka and other boys and was even injured in the incident - before using his gun.

However, in all the circumstances it was found that there was room to prosecute him, since the police orders and police procedures do not allow firing at the ground, in the circumstances and in the manner in which the officer acted.

As mentioned, the officer is accused of firing at the asphalt, which is a hard, flat surface that cannot be fired at, for fear of splashes that could endanger human lives, and at not firing at most at the nearby sandy ground, which stops the bullet acceleration without flakes.