Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Mario Woods, native of Troy, Ala., and team leader for the 401st Military Police...... read more read more
Story by: Sgt. Daniel Blottenberger
BAGHDAD – The city of Baghdad welcomed the addition of a new local Iraqi police station to its security force April 29 during a ribbon cutting ceremony held in Furat.
The Furat Local police station officially opened for business, despite a dense sandstorm that covered the Baghdad area April 29.
The ceremony featured Iraqi security forces and local religious leaders from the Furat and Jihad areas from around outlying areas of Baghdad. Coalition force leaders attended in support of the continued progress of the Iraqi police expansion program.
"The police force in Furat represents the Furat people," said Col. Mark Spindler, commander, 18th Military Police Brigade, Multi-National Division-Baghdad, who is a native of St. Louis.
The Furat police force is made up of more than 400 trained Iraqi policemen who graduated from the co-located Al Furat Iraqi police academy.
Most of the members of the force were once Sons of Iraq (Abna al-Iraq) in the Furat and Jihad neighborhoods.
"The families of Furat are very happy that they have family members working in the Iraqi police force here," said 1st Lt. Mohammed Loaybi, commander of the Iraqi police force at the Furat station.
"The Iraqi police here help the people of Furat now," said Sgt. Nicholas Barnum, police Ttransition team non-commissioned officer in charge, 401st Military Police Company, who is a native of Fort Worth, Texas. "It is a station, where the citizens can come to when they have a problem. Because of the new station and increased IP forces in the area, security will improve."
When Barnum and his squad arrived on site two months ago, the station was empty. Since then, Barnum and his squad have been working extended hours with the IP to get it established and ready to serve its local citizens.
The police force is now trained and the station is mission capable to provide the Furat and Jihad neighborhoods needed security.
"We are ready for anything," said Loaybi. "Nothing will go wrong as long as I am in charge."
The police force has gone through training and has reviewed its community policing operations over the past few weeks in preparation for the opening of the station.
"We trained the police force on police patrolling techniques, checkpoint operations and station defense drills," said Barnum, referring to a few of the training exercises the IPs completed prior to the opening.
As the IP continues to lead the fight against crime in Baghdad, the increased number of IP will help deter criminal activities with coalition forces in support.
"We will continue to support the IP in what they do," said Spindler, referring to the 18th MP Bde.'s mission to train, support, assess and mentor the IP force in order for them to enforce the rule of law and protect their local citizens.
"Things are getting better every day," said Spindler, about the security situation in Iraq. "Tomorrow will be better then today."
| Date Taken: | 04.30.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 04.30.2008 15:40 |
| Story ID: | 18958 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 579 |
| Downloads: | 499 |
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