Civil Affairs helps Iraqi Police develop relationship with dangerous neighborhood before Hajj

Photo By Spc. Michael Pfaff | KIRKUK, Iraq (Jan. 10, 2006) -- An Iraqi police officer hands out candy and toys to children in a neighborhood where a number of attacks have occurred recently. The Iraqi police have been working with the 451st Civil Affairs Battalion to build a relationship with the community. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael Pfaff)  

KIRKUK, IRAQ

01.16.2006

Courtesy Story

133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Story and photos by Spc. Michael Pfaff
133rd MPAD

KIRKUK, Iraq (Jan. 10, 2006) " The streets of Kirkuk ran red with blood today.

On many days in this city, a city marred by an ethnic divide and an infestation of insurgents, blood spilling onto the streets denotes a setback for prosperity of the people and safety of coalition forces. But, today that blood wasn't the blood of innocent citizens or coalition casualties.

Today was the first day of Hajj, an Iraqi holiday spanning four days, and the people of a northern Kirkuk neighborhood carve into a cow, preparing it for a feast. They will feast in their homes warmed by electricity, their kids will play in unpolluted streets, and they'll do it trusting that local police will protect them. The people weren't expecting as much during their holiday.

Three days ago, Soldiers from the 451st Civil Affairs Battalion mounted their armored humvees and, in a joint effort with the Iraqi police, visited this neighborhood. The neighborhood, found in a sector of Kirkuk reported as a problem area, is a place where public sentiment for coalition forces was dangerously low and attacks occurred frequently.

When they arrived, they found a derelict cityscape, grim and smothered in trash. The people were reluctant to exit their homes and businesses to interact with the Soldiers. An elderly man approached and began shouting that he was upset.

Staff Sgt. Ignacio A. Betancourt, a civil affairs team sergeant with the 451st, was one of the Soldiers there to hear his complaints.

"The trash, the electricity, and no police," Betancourt explained. "The people had three complaints when we first visited the area."

Betancourt said the Iraqi police immediately contacted the Joint Command Center, a centralized communications hub for Iraqi security forces, and within 20 minutes a truck was sent out to fix the electricity.

"[The Iraqi police] got the electricity fixed on the spot before we left," Betancourt said. "So, the people were happy."

Getting the electricity fixed would only be the first step in helping this community. Soldiers from the 451st and Iraqi police returned the following two days and focused on the other two complaints.

Betancourt recalled how the people's demeanor had shifted when they arrived in the neighborhood on the second day.

"On the first visit, the Iraqi police got the electricity turned on for them," Betancourt said. "So the people said, "wow, these guys are out here actually taking care of us". So, they started feeling comfortable with them."

The next issue that needed to be taken care of was the excessive trash in the streets that locals explained was over six months worth of build up. Coordinating with the Department of Sanitation, Betancourt said the Iraqi police enlisted five trucks, a bulldozer and ten workers to remove the trash.

The Iraqi police were involved in the first two visits, but on the third visit they would focus on interacting with the people.

"The third visit the people realized the Iraqi police really meant business," Betancourt said.

The Iraqi police spent time talking with the locals and handing out toys and candy to the children in the neighborhood. An Iraqi police colonel was among the police that visited and talked with the people.

"The colonel started talking with the people, letting them know the police are there to help," Betancourt said. "By today's visit, people started coming out and thanking us. But at the same time, we told them, "it wasn't us." It was the Iraqi police.

"[Locals] were actually out there shaking hands with the Iraqi police, patting them on the back and letting them know they were happy to see them there spending time with the people."

Thanks to the Iraqi police and the 451st Civil Affairs Detachment, the people in this neighborhood can spend their days of Hajj visiting and relaxing with each other instead of worrying about their children being cold or waist deep in filth.

Betancourt said unlike other foreign countries, where civil affairs might be building schools or digging wells to promote a community, in Iraq there is something different that needs to be built. It's a trust between a community and its protectors; something you can't touch, but can definitely see.

"Coalition forces are not going to be in Iraq forever," Betancourt said. "If a trust is not built between the Iraqi police and the local populace, we're basically defeating ourselves. However, if we start letting the Iraqi police build a relationship with the local populace, it is helping us pull out of the country eventually and feel comfortable knowing the Iraqi police and Iraqi people are working with each other."

• Date Taken: 01.16.2006
• Date Posted: 01.16.2006 13:12
• Story ID: 5125
• Location: KIRKUK, IQ