Military Police help train Iraqi police

Photo By Sgt. Armando Monroig | MUQDADIYAH, Iraq (Dec. 21, 2006) - Staff Sgt. Sam Fulton, squad leader, 1st Squad, 128th Military Police Company out of Huntsville, Ala., and a native of Athens, Ala., hides behind sand bags on the roof of a building at the Joint Coordination Cell in Muqdadiya, Iraq, Nov. 21. Fulton was searching for sniper positions in the buildings across the street.  

MUQDADIYA, IRAQ

12.28.2006

Story by Sgt. Armando Monroig 

5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment   

By Sgt. Armando Monroig
5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

MUQDADIYAH, Iraq (Dec. 28, 2006) - Members of the 128th Military Police Company from Huntsville, Ala. paid a visit to the Joint Coordination Center in Muqdadiyah Nov. 21 as part of their continuing effort to support the Iraqi Police.

The JCC is the equivalent of a 911 center. It gives residents a way to request emergency assistance and provide information about illegal activities in the area. Personnel at the JCC can dispatch Iraqi Army or Iraqi police to locations where they are needed.

The 128th MP Company's primary mission is Police Transitional Training. PTT includes the basics of every day police work, such as paperwork, filing, requesting supplies, up-keep of the police station, and providing security around the station.

"Our job is to train the locals to set up their police station so they have a good inventory and accountability of weapons, ammunition and their people," said Staff Sgt. Sam Fulton, squad leader of 1st squad, 128th MP Co., and a native of Athens, Ala.,

Also included in the 128th's mission is the Biometric Automated Technology system. The BAT system is an electronic system used to scan retinas.

Retina scans are done on detainees as well as new IP employees. The retina scans are later input into a database along with dates of birth, other personal information, and even facial features in hopes of deterring any further attacks on the coordination center.

Sgt. Donald Ashley, assistant squad leader of 1st Squad and a native of Scottsboro, Ala., said the JCC has recently been hit with insurgent attacks.

"This place has been hit several times lately, with sniper fire, mortar fire, and vehicle born improvised explosive devices," Ashley said.

During the visit, Ashley went to the roof to check on possible sniper positions and keep security watch over other elements on the ground.

Ashley said there have been kidnapping attempts on Iraqi Police, and small-arms fire coming from insurgents hiding in the dense brush surrounding the compound is not uncommon.

Fulton said helping the Iraqi police at the JCC has been difficult.

"We're supposed to go in, do inventories and teach them our tactics. The bad guys have flared up from time to time and impeded that," he said.

Fulton said the chief's 12-year-old son was recently pulled out of school and murdered.

On another occasion, an Iraqi explosives ordnance disposal technician was murdered.

"They've threatened all the police officers and said, 'Come to work again, we're going to kill you and your family,'" he added.

That's where members of the coalition forces, like the 128th Co., come in.

"What we've been doing, is making a presence there. Also, 6-9 ARS (Armored Reconnaissance Squadron) has been in support of that. They've showed up in their Bradleys from time to time, and let (insurgents) know that we're here to support these guys," said Fulton.

Fulton said that by keeping a watchful eye in the JCC vicinity, his unit will make a statement to the anti-Iraqi forces.

"With these M14s that were issued to us we can employ counter-sniper tactics, and basically make ourselves known. "Here we are. Take a shot at us," said Fulton.

"We're going to return fire with swift and violent action. And hopefully let the bad guys know, we don't just squeeze rounds off. We squeeze them off with precision."

• Date Taken: 12.28.2006
• Date Posted: 12.29.2006 11:14
• Story ID: 8702
• Location: MUQDADIYA, IQ