Farmer now serves people of Ramadi as policeman

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. 1st Class Falah Hassan, a policeman working at the Jazeera Police Station, is just one of many individuals responsible for providing security for the locals in the city of Ramadi, Iraq.  

RAMADI, IRAQ

05.27.2007

Story by Spc. Ricardo Branch 

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

By Spc. Ricardo Branch
1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

RAMADI, Iraq – Polishing a gun, and sitting behind a counter in the Jazeera Police station, it's hard sometimes for people to imagine that Sgt. 1st Class Falah Hassan was a farmer.

"I didn't think I'd be an Iraqi policeman either," he laughs. "I wanted to continue farming but I had to change that because my city needed me."

He said that while he was farming one day he noticed things were getting real bad around Ramadi so he heeded the call and joined the growing police force around Al-Anbar province.

"I did it because I wanted the terrorists out of this area, and I'll keep working until I see Ramadi safe and secure again."

Now working in a police station, Hassan finds the work a rewarding experience.

"Since we've built this station last year things have quieted down from our presence here," he said. "We've gradually increased our patrols in areas where no policeman was before."

Those patrols are what Hassan credits as what has helped really pay off for the security improvements around the area.

"Out here it's been hard work," he said. "We've made it possible for people to once again go into downtown Ramadi, where before they thought that was impossible. I'm real happy about it. I thank God every day that we are able to bring more security to the people of Ramadi."

Now with the Jazeera station up and running since last November, Hassan and fellow policeman see the work they do as almost routine.

"We're at the point where it's been getting easier and easier each day," he said. "Very soon Ramadi will be at the point where it will be like a normal city."

He said his job allows him to see things he never thought possible.

"You can talk to the people on the streets; they are amazed with the work we've conducted," he said. "We're taking killers, kidnappers and thieves off the streets, which
is the best part of this job – we're helping Ramadi."

It was not always calm for the policeman of Jazeera however. Once Hassan recalls a time not to long ago when he worked off his shift.

"One of the hardest moments of my job was August 21, when many of the policemen I worked with were injured by terrorists. I came in on my day off to man the station we were at so others could go out and catch the terrorists."

Now that he's been a policeman for four years, Hassan has a message for anyone looking to start trouble in his city.

"I'd tell them everything is good here now," he said. "If they want to mess with us, it would be a big mistake as things have improved here so much my fellow policeman from around the city would come down on them."

• Date Taken: 05.27.2007
• Date Posted: 05.29.2007 14:50
• Story ID: 10547
• Location: RAMADI, IQ