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Officers
from the 3rd Public Order Battalion react to a gunman during
a training exercise at Forward Operating Base Seven in
December. The officers were preparing to take over policing
duties in the city of Samarra at the end of the month. They
were being trained by military and civilian officials,
including George Clark, an international police officer and
Philadelphia resident who played the role of the
gun-wielding terrorist. (Photo by Spc. Ismail Turay Jr.,
196th MPAD) |
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FORWARD
OPERATING BASE SEVEN, Iraq As the lone terrorist approached
the Samarra Police checkpoint, an officer ordered the man to
halt. But he ignored the command, drew a pistol and pointed it
at the officers.
Immediately,
several of the policemen pointed their weapons at him as they
surrounded the man. Had they been soldiers, the officers would
have been within their rights to shoot the man as dictated by
the rules of engagements.
However, these
are peace officers who are trained to use force as a last
resort. So they wrestled him to the ground and took the pistol
from him, foiling his plot to kill coalition forces and innocent
civilian.
This was
merely a training exercise. But the 13 noncommissioned police
officers from the 3rd Public Order Battalion know
they will face similar situations when patrolling the streets of
Samarra in a few weeks.
Their
execution was excellent, said George Clark, an international
police officer and a Philadelphia resident who played the role
of the terrorist. I chose to be the terrorist because of the
language barrier, and they had to think outside of the box. Its
all about reacting in a timely fashion and they did that well.
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Officers
from the 3rd Public Order Battalion detainee practice
detaining techniques during a training exercise at Forward
Operating Base Seven in December. The officers were
preparing to take over policing duties in the city of
Samarra at the end of the month. They were being trained by
military and civilian officials, including George Clark, an
international police officer and Philadelphia resident who
played the role of the detainee. (Photo by Spc. Ismail Turay
Jr., 196th MPAD) |
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Iraqi police
was in charge of keeping order in Samarra in recent months. But
nearly the entire force resigned because officers were
threatened by rebels. As a result, the city has been without a
police force for the past few months, said Sgt. 1st
Class Ricky Jelen, the second brigades S5 and Iraqi forces
noncommissioned officer in charge.
So city
officials tapped 170 officers from the 3rd POB to
form a police force that will relieve coalition forces so they
can concentrate on protecting the city from insurgents, Jelen
said.
During the two
week training, the officers will learn first aid, vehicle and
personnel search, marksmanship and the like, Jelen said. They
will also drive around the city with members of the Iraqi army a
few hours a day to get familiar with the routes.
Sgt. Maj. Ali
Kadhim held the same rank in the old Iraqi Army. He said the
training he and his men are receiving from the Americans has
been valuable.
There are
stark differences in the American style of training and that of
Saddam Husseins army, he said. For instance, the Americans
teach that citizens be treated with dignity and respect, and no
one is above the law, Kadhim said.
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Police
officers from the 3rd Public Order Battalion train on
detaining prisoners at a makeshift check point at Forward
Operating Base Seven in December. The officers were to begin
policing the city of Samarra at the end of the month. They
were being trained by military and civilian officials,
include George Clark, an international police officer and
Philadelphia resident who played the role of the detainee.
(Photo by Spc. Ismail Turay Jr., 196th MPAD)
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Additionally,
in the old army, superiors ruled with iron fists. As a sergeant
major, he had no power and was unable to express his thoughts,
and superiors mistreated the subordinates, he said.
Now, soldiers
and police officers treat each other with respect and display a
level of professionalism that was non-existent in the past,
Kadhim said. He also likes the fact that he now has the freedom
to say what he wants and hes learned to deal with all kinds of
people, he said.
The 3rd
POB officers are the most disciplined Iraqi security forces
Jelen and Clark have ever worked with, both men said. The
officers are continuously prompt and their morale is high.
Also, their
uniforms are always up to standards and they take their training
seriously and seem to be sincere about helping build a
democratic Iraq, Jelen said.
I see that
the Iraqis are starting to make a difference, he said. They
are getting tired of the enemy, and once their forces are up,
they can take over and we can go home. (Story by Spc. Ismail
Turay Jr., 196th MPAD) |
