Iraqi Police graduate advanced investigator course

Photo By Cpl. Joshua Murray | A diploma is displayed at the graduation ceremony for an advanced investigators course at a dining facility aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Dec. 17. Thirteen Iraqi policemen graduated from the four day course, where they learned advanced fingerprinting, interrogation, photography and evidence gathering skills from U.S. service members.  

AL ASAD, IRAQ

12.19.2009

Story by Cpl. Megan Murray 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq — Thirteen Iraqi policemen, all who are head investigators from Iraq's National Information and Investigation Agency, Counter Terrorism Unit, and Criminal Investigation Units in the Hit, Baghdadi and Haditha police districts, graduated from a four day advanced investigator course and received their diplomas at a dining facility aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Dec. 17.

In addition to basic skills, on the first day of training, the judge of the Haditha district court was present to provide instruction on courtroom procedures and evidence handling.

Soldiers from the 747th Military Police Company facilitated the course, which focused on refreshing the investigators' skills in areas such as fingerprinting, evidence collection, interview and interrogation, and photography.

"It was my honor to be the course director for the advanced investigator course and work with such a select group of investigators," said Army Lt. Col. Pat Crisler, the senior Iraqi police advisor for Al Anbar.

Also present at the graduation ceremony were IP Col. Salam Abd al-Salam Abdullah al-Ubaydi, the Baghdadi district chief of police, Col. Grant Olbrich, the Multi National Force - West Iraqi Security Forces director, and Navy Capt. Todd Kiefer, the commanding officer of Al Asad's Base Command Group.

"On behalf of the provincial police chief in Anbar, we would like to thank [U.S.] forces for their cooperation with the Iraqi police," began Salam, speaking through an interpreter, "and for opening this very important course to teach the officers and employees and to exchange the experiences between the two parties to reach the goal, which is the success of reaching the criminals and finding all the terrorists, and to submit them to justice ... to achieve justice among the law enforcement and the people."

Just before diplomas were handed out, one of the graduates stood up and asked to say a few words of thanks.

"I attended the course, and on behalf of all the other investigation officers in the course, I would like to thank all the teachers who gave us the class," said an IP Captain with the NIIA, speaking through an interpreter. "This course has provided very good information that was really helpful for us, and it gave us more experience."

Sgt. 1st Class Janet Lopez, the platoon sergeant of 3rd Platoon, 747th MP Company, witnessed the policemen's enthusiasm for the course first hand.

"They're very excited about having the training, and it's always good to refresh your [investigative] skills, because it's one of those things where if you don't use it, you lose it," Lopez explained.

The policemen were all smiles as they proudly accepted their diplomas and set out to bring justice to the province.

• Date Taken: 12.19.2009
• Date Posted: 12.19.2009 00:26
• Story ID: 42943
• Location: AL ASAD, IQ