US Troops Fighting Uphill Battle as they Train Iraqi Police

I happened to be looking through some news articles when I came across an article in The Boston Globe ( see link below ). What a mess! I thought our training academy staff had it hard trying to turn good citizens into good police officers. Can you imagine trying to train an Iraqi police force from the ground up while at the same time dealing with corrupt judges, police supervisors, and businessmen who often use the officers you train as pawns in their own personal agendas? Can you imagine doing this while working without adequate equipment. Now imagine successfully acquiring the much needed police equipment, only to see it taken by rich businessmen looking for well equipped bodyguards, who happen to be the very police you have trained, or to have the police officers themselves sell the equipment on the black market. Can you imagine trying to train these police officers when they may or may not show up on any given day? Now imagine doing this while having to put up with the bureaucratic red tape that accompanies everything you do in the military.
According to the article, this is what our troops are faced with as they try to build up the Iraqi police force. While it seems the development of a strong and effective police force in Iraq would be paramount if we are to be successful there, it seems almost impossible given the situation are troops, who are trying to train these forces, are being subject to. Lets just hope the generals and policy-making higher-ups are getting true and honest reports concerning the problems the front-liners are dealing with, and not white-washed reports that will make the military leaders and politicians happy. Truth and honesty all the way up the chain is absolutely necessary so that ideas, procedures, training, and funding can be adequately adjusted. You have to feel for our troops out there.


http://http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2006/12/13/us_officer_spells_out_iraq_police_training_woes/

Comments on Bell Shooting

A friend of mine recently asked me about my opinion on the Bell shooting in New York, in which police officers fired upon a group of reportedly unarmed men, killing Mr. Bell on his wedding night. As tragic as this incident is, I cannot say that the officers were guilty of any crime. Police officers are given the authority to carry weapons and use deadly force in situations where they feel their life, or the life of another, is in jeopardy. From the reports I've read, at least one of the officers was "bumped" by Mr. Bell's vehicle. Another report indicates one of the officers reported seeing a gun. The vehicle the officers were using was also hit. While we don't yet know everything that happened that night, I can say as a police officer, that given the mentioned facts, any police officer would have been on edge and fearful for his own life. It would not then, at that point, have taken much for the officers to have believed that their lives were being threatened and to respond with deadly force to any perceived threats by the victims. While it is impossible to judge the officers without knowing all of the facts, I think they at least deserve the benefit of the doubt. See this article http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20061211-0033-prosecutingpolice.html

My Police Blog

I am new at blogging, so bear with me as I get comfortable and establish this blog as a place you would considering visiting often. What I hope to accomplish is to provide you (the reader) with a police perspective (or at least this police officer's perspective) on current events dealing with police, law enforcement, crime, criminal law, police brutality, etc. I would also like to provide you with a place to get questions answered concerning any police related topics. Pleases don't hesitate to send me your questions, curiosities, complaints, etc. Let's get this blog started!