New police station brings in new era of law

Photo By Christina Bhatti | Iraqi police officers salute their boss as he enters the new Iraqi police station after the grand opening ceremony, March 15, in Shat al Taji, northwest of Baghdad.  

TAJI, IRAQ

03.18.2008

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Christina Bhatti 

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

By Sgt. 1st Class Christina Bhatti
2nd SBCT PAO, 25th Inf. Div., MND-B

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – A new era of law was ushered in as the ribbon was cut at a ceremony opening the new Iraqi police station in Shat al Taji, March 15.

"Our goal is to serve the people and impose the law on all the people," said Maj. Gen. Kaadim Hameed Sharhaan al Muhamadani, commander of police, Baghdad, to a large attentive audience.

The crowd hung on his every word and nodded in agreement as Muhamadani preached about the security of the people, the importance of the new police station and what it will bring to the Taji Qada, which lies northwest of Baghdad.

"This is about the security of the people of Iraq," he said. "Stability and peace were brought here with the help of the coalition forces. It is now our time to keep that peace. We will keep that peace by imposing the law for everyone regardless if they are Sunni or Shia."

Breaking through the sectarian violence and uniting the Sunni and Shia people was the theme, which rang clearly through the crowd and echoed by Col. Todd B. McCaffrey, commander, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, "Warrior" 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.

"The concern is the law," McCaffrey said, "not Sunni or Shia, but protecting all."

It was just a year ago that the people of Taji were living in "dark days," McCaffrey said. There were hardly any businesses open and people lived in fear of terrorists. Things have changed in Taji, and people no longer live in fear. McCaffrey accredited the peace and stability of the area to the work of the Iraqi security forces, which include the Iraqi police, Iraqi army and the Sons of Iraq (Abna al- Iraq).

"We are now in control of our towns," Kodhom said. "We have strong defenses, and we will no longer let the terrorists prevail."

The project of the police station happened in two steps, said Sheik Nadeem Hatem Sultan al Tamimi, a local leader in Taji.

"We first had to take control and rid our town of terrorists," he said. "Next, we had to establish a police station."

Now those two steps are complete, Nadeem said he hopes the people of Taji will be happy they now live in peace, and he encourages them to abide by the laws to help keep the peace that was fought so hard for.

The newly opened police station has approximately 530 police officers. The officers have gone through rigorous training and are ready to enforce the law, Muhamadani said.

"We will do our best to impose the laws," he said. "No longer will violence prevail."

• Date Taken: 03.18.2008
• Date Posted: 03.19.2008 15:09
• Story ID: 17554
• Location: TAJI, IQ