Iraqi police learn crime scene preservation

Photo By 1st Sgt. Luisito Brooks | Iraqi policemen at the local police station practice searching Soldiers assigned to 2nd Platoon, C Troop, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, during a crime scene preservation class April 21.  

TARMIYAH, IRAQ

04.21.2010

Story by Spc. Luisito Brooks 

4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division

TARMIYAH, Iraq – Finding evidence at a crime scene is like finding pieces of a puzzle. Ensuring that the pieces remain undisturbed is key to solving crimes.

To help in the collecting of valuable evidence, Soldiers from 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, gave Iraqi policemen a class on crime scene preservation and reacting to an improvised explosive device training class at the Tarmiyah police station April 21.

"The purpose of this training was to identify how the IP should take control of a crime scene," said Spc. Christopher Nollenberg, a cavalry scout with 2nd Platoon, C Troop. "If they can quickly cordon the area and preserve evidence, the better they can begin investigating these crimes."

The training, beginning with a class portion and slide presentation, walked the IP step by step though the process of reacting to an attack and how to properly secure a scene to prevent evidence tampering.

"The class was very good, and I am glad the U.S. Soldiers were able to come here," said Muhamid, a newly recruited IP at the local station. "In the class, they answered all of our questions about what needed to be done."

Moving from the classroom to the outside training area, the students prepared to execute what they just learned.

"I had a trigger man, a spotter, two innocent bystanders and someone who was injured by the blast already staged for the practical exercise," said Nollenberg. "I yelled 'BOOM!' and they had to react accordingly."

While moving through the training area, the IP began taking control of the chaotic scene. Beyond just reacting to the attack, the IA Soldiers had to pay attention to the scene around them to look for clues related to the crime.

"They were communicating very well," said Sgt. Gordon Heintzman, a team leader with 2nd Platoon, C Troop, 2nd Sqdn., 1st Cav. Regt. "They were able to find and arrest the triggerman, spotter and then perform first aid to the injured local."

He said the IP moved through the scene with a purpose, securing the site of the attack.

In the confusion after the attack, Heintzman, a Yakima, Wash., native, added that a few mistakes were still made, but overall the police officers seemed to get a good grasp on the training.

"Now that they know what right looks like, they can begin training other IPs," Heintzman said. "The more knowledge we share with them the better, because we want them [to] remain self sufficient as we conduct our responsible drawdown of forces."

• Date Taken: 04.21.2010
• Date Posted: 04.30.2010 11:19
• Story ID: 48944
• Location: TARMIYAH, IQ