16th Engineers meet with partners to address IED, EFP site preservation

Photo By Spc. Heather Todd | Col. Tris Cooper from Marion, Ohio, deputy commander for 16th Engineer Brigade, accepts a token of appreciation from Gen. Faris Abid al Hameed Halem, the EOD director of federal police, at the conclusion of the conference March 31. The meeting was an important step in coordinating efforts to preserve evidence at IED and EFP sites.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

04.10.2010

Courtesy Story

United States Division-Center

BAGHDAD -- Iraqi security force leaders in charge of responding to the scene of improvised explosive devices and explosively-formed penetrators met with 16th Engineer Brigade leaders at the Federal Police Explosive Ordnance Detachment Headquarters in downtown Baghdad March 31.

The meeting addressed the importance of preserving evidence at the site of IEDs and EFPs. Their conclusion: Iraqi army and federal police first responders must be keenly aware of how to preserve evidence so that law enforcement officials can use it to apprehend and arrest violent extremists behind these acts.

"The U.S. Army EOD frequently arrives at the crime scene to find that the scene is all cleaned up and hosed down — all the evidence is washed away," said EOD adviser, Maj. Emerson Long. "By keeping the scene from being contaminated, it lets us get the evidence that we need to figure out who the perpetrator or bomb maker is."

The meeting took place as 16th Engineer Brigade is preparing to redeploy as part of an Iraq-wide responsible drawdown, leaving the job of maintaining safety and security to capable Iraqi counterparts.

Both the Iraqi army and federal police understand the importance of collecting the evidence and are willing to work together, but they have some obstacles standing in their way.

"We are fighting an invisible enemy: the lack of equipment and resources," said the Federal Police EOD director, Gen. Faris Abid al Hameed Halem.

The Iraqi police officers have trained and continue to train with U.S. explosive ordnance Soldiers, but without the proper equipment or the right resources, it has made it harder to collect the evidence needed to do their jobs correctly and effectively.

The meeting also addressed a plan to split the areas between the different EOD units. Currently, the Iraqi army, the Iraqi police and the fire department all share the same areas. Whoever arrives on the scene first takes control of the operation.

They expressed they would like to set up designated areas to alleviate any confusion and allow units to run operations as they see fit.

Although progress continues, there are still problems to address.

As a result, Col. Tris Cooper, deputy commander, 16th Engineer Brigade, said 16th will continue building the relationship they have with their Iraqi counterparts: "We will continue working together to ensure there is progress made on these problems."

• Date Taken: 04.10.2010
• Date Posted: 04.10.2010 18:20
• Story ID: 47963
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ