Story by: Spc. Mary Rose
IPS
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq -- Military and Iraqi police are working together in a partnership program to better train, support and secure the future of Iraq.
In order to enhance police command and control; staff operations; communications and intelligence networks; and to streamline law and order within areas of operation; the 42nd Military Police Brigade, Fort Lewis, Wash., has employed police support teams at the Baghdad police headquarters and stations, said Maj. Curtis M. Schroeder, Iraq Police Service liaison, 42nd MP Bde.
"We are teaching and coaching the leaders to delegate authority and use their staff efficiently and showing them how to train their own troops," said Schroeder.
The MPs are working hand-in-hand with the Iraqi Police Services to get Iraqi police forces trained, equipped and automated so the Baghdad police can operate efficiently.
There are three types of police forces in Baghdad that military police partner with: traffic police, patrol police and Baghdad police. There is a headquarters for each element which collectively employs more than 19,600 police in Baghdad.
The MPs are focusing on the Baghdad Maintenance Facility and the Baghdad Police Academy so the Iraqi people can operate their training and logistical facilities on their own, Schroeder said.
The Baghdad Maintenance Facility stores and repairs Baghdad police and Iraq Ministry of Interior vehicles, and tracks vehicle records via automation.
"We started from zero to establish this maintenance facility. We rebuilt the buildings and worked very hard -- with American support -- to put it back in business," said Sa"ad Hamza, technical support chief of Center Maintenance Baghdad.
"It took about six to seven months to get all the equipment and complete all the repairs," he said.
Even though the facility has been set up with automation to track activity and equipment they are still behind on technology compared to other countries, such as the U.S., Sa"ad said.
Iraq has been under embargo for years, Sa"ad said. "I personally feel we are behind in the world technology. We need a lot of support to catch up."
Being better equipped and trained is a goal for the IPs and MPs in Baghdad. The Baghdad Police Academy is learning how to better use the equipment they're being issued and secure the environment for the Iraqi populace.
With the help of MPs, the academy is adequately training about 3,000 police per quarter, said Capt. Jeffery Withers, commander, 411th MP Co., Fort Hood, Tex.
Iraqi police instructors work with Coalition instructors to train the police cadets in small classes to get better results, said Withers. "We're providing a quality police officer to go out on the streets and insuring that they can self-sufficiently and securely police their own country," he added.
As an end result of this partnership program, what we want to see is a self-sufficient police force, able to provide a safe and secure environment for the Iraqi people, Schroeder said.
| Date Taken: | 04.04.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 04.04.2005 12:33 |
| Story ID: | 1475 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 33 |
| Downloads: | 9 |
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