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HOWZ-E-MADAD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Civilian Operational Police and coalition forces patrolled a bazaar along Highway One outside of Forward Operating Base Howz-E-Madad.
The patrols are accomplished a few times each week to increase security and establish trust between the ANCOP and local population. One of the goals is for Afghan police to establish familiarity with the shop owners and find out what they need so profits continue to increase.
“We go in to maintain a record of shop owners and check on the progress being made,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Steve Surface, Mortars, Headquarters, Headquarters Company 2-502, 101st Airborne Division.
Not only is security better, the bazaar is busier than ever and more shops are opening.
“A lot of the owners are making more money we see more people shopping every time we go there,” Surface said. “More shops are moving here from other locations because security is better and they feel safer.”
One gas station owner, sitting outside his shop sipping tea with friends, agreed. He said they were fired upon regularly a few months ago, but now the shootings have stopped.
“We are very busy now,” explained Said Mohammad through an interpreter. “I have more business and we feel safer.”
Surface said they do these patrols with Afghan law enforcement so the ANCOP can talk with the shop owners and earn their trust. When the people trust their law enforcement officials, they’ll report suspicious activities. The Afghans see what good security can do for business and they want it to continue and improve.
| Date Taken: | 01.28.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 01.31.2011 04:44 |
| Story ID: | 64507 |
| Location: | HOWZ-E-MADAD, AF |
| Web Views: | 64 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Patrols increase business, by TSgt Kevin Williams, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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