Photo By 1st Lt. William Marquez | On July 15, at Camp Cropper in Baghdad, Iraq, Col. Grace Edinboro, Commander of the...... read more read more
BAGHDAD - In Baghdad, Iraq, another milestone in the partnership between the Government of Iraq and United States Forces was reached with the transfer of the Cropper Theater Internment Facility, which was the last major U.S. operated detention facility in Iraq.
On July 15, in a ceremony at the Iraqi Correctional Officer dining facility at the Cropper TIF, now named Karkh prison, more than 1600 detainees and a facility with nearly $48M in new infrastructure were transferred to the Government of Iraq.
Iraq’s Minister of Justice, Dara Nur al-Deen, addressing an audience of Iraqi and American civilian and military leaders, and dozens of pan-Arab and Western media outlets, focused his remarks on his commitment to the standards set by his American partners and to the duties of the Iraqi Correctional Services.
“Our prisons of Iraq need to rise to the standards of American prisons,” said Dara. “We must train our staff to strive to prevent any misconduct or abuse against detainees.” “Correction and rehabilitation must be the cornerstones of the Iraqi Correctional Services.”
The Provost Marshal General for United States Forces-Iraq, Maj. Gen. Jerry Cannon, also spoke at this historic event, focusing his remarks on the importance of maintaining long-term strategic partnerships with the Ministry of Justice and the ICS.
“Progress takes time, teamwork and hard work. We’ve made steady improvement that will last. We’ve trained a correctional force with a modern, functional, well-built facility that will last for years to come,” said Cannon.
Part of this progress was accomplished during the critical and final phase of the Cropper TIF transfer. During these last few months, the TIF was commanded and controlled by the 49th Military Police Brigade Tactical Command Post, lead by Col. Grace Edinboro, deputy commander of the 49th Military Police Brigade. The 49th is a National Guard unit headquartered in Fairfield, California.
Although she considered properly preparing the TIF for transfer to the Government of Iraq extremely important, Edinboro saw her primary mission as providing care, custody and control of all detainees with dignity and respect. This was accomplished by good training reinforced by good leadership.
“Our conduct of detainee operations had to be absolutely above board. This began with very good training of Soldiers working in the TIF and the continual reinforcement of well-understood rules. Leaders were continually in the facility monitoring what was going on,” said Edinboro.
For Edinboro, this training and leadership made a difference. She was always impressed with how well the thousands of Soldiers conducting detainee operations under her command understood and applied the basic principles of effective detainee operations.
“Every Soldier knew their job was to provide care, custody and control of detainees with dignity and respect. They did this, even when dealing with unruly detainees. They set a great example for the ICO's working alongside them.”
While ensuring the three battalions under her command were fulfilling their primary responsibilities of securing and caring for the detainees in their custody, Edinboro had the additional task of working closely with Cannon to ensure the TIF was properly prepared for transfer to the GOI. For Edinboro, the training of Iraqi Correctional Officers was essential to a successful transfer.
“When we took charge in April, throughout the facility we paired up ICO's with Soldiers. We expanded ICO training as quickly as possible. They have good leadership and are a disciplined and reliable force,” said Edinboro.
The completion of important infrastructure projects was also very important to the transfer of the TIF. The 49th TAC increased the physical security of a compound that houses Al Qaeda terrorists and former members of Saddam Hussein’s regime; and the 49th built an entry control point that allows ICOs and their detainees to move in and out of their newly acquired facility without having to use the entrances and roads of the surrounding American base.
Lt. Col. Barabara McPhale, a Military Police officer in the 49th Military Police Brigade and the Plans Officer for the 49th TAC, was decisive in directing the successful execution of these critical facility upgrades and initiatives.
Summarizing the 49th’s contribution to the strategically important mission of detainee operations, Edinboro expressed her gratefulness for the privilege to oversee the transfer of the last major detention facility operated by US forces in Iraq.
“It was an honor to help lead this mission. The 49th TAC CP had the detention operations mission for U.S. Forces – Iraq for a short time, but we accomplished a tremendous amount. We are proud to have been the last brigade size element to command detention operations in Iraq, successfully finishing all the hard work, preparation and sacrifice of the many brigades that came before us.”
| Date Taken: | 07.15.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 07.29.2010 03:59 |
| Story ID: | 53601 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 209 |
| Downloads: | 96 |
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