Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080203-08
February 3, 2008

Baghdad welcomes hundreds of new Iraqi Police
By Sgt. Daniel D. Blottenberger 18th MP Brigade PAO Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

BAGHDAD – Top Iraqi Police official Maj. Gen. Kadhem Hamid Sharhan, Provincial Police Commander of Baghdad, members of the 18th Military Police Brigades’ Command Group and Provincial Police Transition Team gathered at the Camp Fiji Iraqi Police Training Facility to witness 493 new Iraqi Police officers graduate and perform a training demonstration Feb. 2.

“This increase in police force will better the peace for the citizens,” said Capt. Mohammad, training commander, Iraqi Police’s Forward Unit. “I see only good things in our future.”

The increase in police forces is intended to strengthen the overall security of Baghdad as part of a continued Iraqi police expansion program. This program is aimed to train more than 12,000 new Iraqi Police recruits from surrounding provinces.

“I am anxious to find out how many improvements there will be in the near future in Baghdad because of this increase in Iraqi Police forces,” said Maj. Larry Dewey, Provincial Police Transition Team Chief, 18th Military Police Brigade. “I am very impressed with the training we have seen to date in this graduating class, as they (Iraqi Police trainers) have led the class completely on their own.”

The ceremony included an Iraqi Police demonstration of techniques on how to provide security to their citizens during the two-week training period at the academy.

The demonstration illustrated how the new Iraqi Police officers will provide safety in their neighborhoods with weapons training, combative techniques, structure-clearing techniques, first aid and defensive maneuvers against small-arms attacks.

Additionally to the techniques demonstrated at the graduation, the two-week course offers Iraqi Police candidates a basic understanding of democratic law enforcement and policing skills, while incorporating values, ethics and human rights, crime scene preservation and detention procedures.

The Iraqi Police and the 18th MP Bde. continue to partner their efforts to increase the number of recruits and train capable Iraqi Police to better serve the people of Iraq.