New IP force integrates with Coalition Forces

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New IP force integrates with Coalition Forces
Story by; 1st Lt. Robert Langford
Co. B, 1st Bn., 64th AR

The Iraqi Police academies at Camp Fiji and Camp Furat, both located in Baghdad, recently graduated two classes of police officers, with nearly 300 of those new Iraqi Policemen dedicated for the city of Jamia.

Those officers are beginning their integration into the local neighborhoods with the mentoring of Coalition Forces. Soldiers from Company B, 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), conducted joint patrols with the newly integrated Iraqi Policemen, Feb. 26.

The patrol was conducted in Jamia, a neighborhood in western Baghdad, and was considered an overwhelming success. This marked the first time the new Iraqi Police force had patrolled the area.

They conducted random searches of homes, cars, and pedestrians in an effort to better secure the population of Jamia.

Their presence was widely received by the local citizens of the area as it marked a milestone in the effort to establish joint security in the Baghdad area. Both children and adults were out in the streets eager to embrace the Iraqi Police with praise.

Sgt. 1st Class Martin Hilton, a Brunswick, Ga. native, and platoon sergeant in Company B, described the situation as a "testament to the strength and determination of the Iraqi people." Currently, the police force in Jamia stands at 69 trained policemen. Another 119 recently graduated from the Iraqi Police Academy and will be joining the force shortly.