Taji Law Enforcement Academy graduates last Iraqi police class

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Sanjay Allen
  • U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs
CAMP TAJI, Iraq (AFNS) --  Airmen from the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Det. 3, graduated the last 15 of more than 400 Iraqi police students at the Taji Law Enforcement Academy here June 3.

With the closing of TLEA, the training is moving from the local level to the directorate level at a regional training center in Baghdad.

"The U.S. Army is still going to be around for awhile, the advise and assist brigade, and they're going to continue those partnerships at the directorate levels," said Maj. Shawn Covault, the 732nd ESFS, Det. 3 commander. "And they'll continue to push training initiatives down to the district levels."

The week-long intermediate to advanced law enforcement course was taught by Iraqi police instructors and overseen by the security forces team.

"The training is very good, so it can help the Iraqis learn a lot and practice and have more information about what's going on," said Brig. Gen. Emad Ismael Al Shafi, the Taji district Iraqi Police commander. "They are supposed to know exactly what's going on, so they get more training and know exactly what they can do, because there are too many crimes and terrorism around Iraq."

The general's hope is that the Iraqi police officers who have come through TLEA will take home what they have learned and spread it to their coworkers.

"I hope that the guys here can take home what they have learned and teach everybody back home what they learned so they can have more guys that know exactly what they can do," the General said. "I hope the experience they get from (the 732nd ESFS, Det. 3 members) and the coalition forces, they can use when they go back home with all the guys and their friends."

The members of the 732nd ESFS, Det. 3, who have been overseeing the training at the academy, feel the training has been helping to make a difference.

"Some of the most significant changes we've seen in the Iraqi police (officers) are their abilities to secure a scene where there's been an improvised explosive device attack or other violent crime committed and exploit that scene," Major Covault said. "They've vastly improved their investigative skills to follow up and capture those insurgent criminals and terrorists."

The 732nd ESFS members arrived here in October 2009, taking over this training from the Army's 591st Military Police Company members. They have been overseeing the Iraqis as they teach their own police force skills such as democratic and community policing, human rights, police values and ethics, crime scene management, interviewing, and other police tasks.

"(Iraqi instructors have been teaching this curriculum) since day one," said Tech. Sgt. Brandon Neal, the NCO in Charge of TLEA. "We've facilitated their training, but they've conducted all the training."

Sergeant Neal said he believes they have really improved on protective service details in the 10 months his unit has been here.

"They really seem to catch on how to protect their (members) as they move through the motions of learning protective service details," Sergeant Neal said.

With the continuous improvement of the Iraqi police officers, General Emad said he is thankful, but ready for his police force to protect the Iraqi people.

"I will thank you forever for all the help and hands you have given to us," he said. "I have a lot of love and respect for what you guys did for us.

"I hope the experience they get from you and the coalition forces, they can use when they go back home ... and make a better life for Iraq," General Emad said.