By the 18th Military Police Brigade Public Affairs Office
BAGHDAD – Security improvements in Baghdad continue to progress as Iraqi security forces conducted a transfer of authority in more than 10 Muhallas (neighborhoods) yesterday in the Karkh Directorate of Baghdad.
In the Kindi and Qadasiyah Muhallas of Baghdad, Iraqi army soldiers handed over security responsibilities to the Iraqi police.
"In the past months, the improvement in the security situation and the Iraqi police capabilities gains have provided the IP the opportunity to take on independent responsibilities for security in their neighborhoods," said Lt. Col. Michael Indovina, spokesman for the 18th Military Police Brigade, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
Iraqi police in the past 12 months have expanded their forces to more than 10,000 'shurtas' (policemen). Through the expansion and development partnership with the 18th Military Police Brigade and other coalition forces efforts, the IP have grown and built their capabilities steadily and are preparing to take over more Muhallas in the near future.
Iraqi police continue to train daily to develop their community policing skills in order to take over security duties and primacy of police operations here in Baghdad.
In past weeks, IP and Iraqi army security forces have conducted a relief in place in selected areas of Baghdad. The "RIP' is a process where the IA soldiers transition with IP to ensure there is a seamless transition of responsibilities and duties.
Part of the RIP process was for all the ISF and community leaders to come together and talk through the transition.
"The transition from IA to IP has been extremely smooth because of the connection between Iraqi police leadership and the IA," said Capt. Nathan Brookshire, commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 716th Military Police Battalion, who is a native of Richmond, Ky. "The ISF in Baghdad conduct joint security meetings so all the key leaders are in the same room talking about how to keep the area secure."