Iraq USF- I, ISF senior leadership attend first Police Primacy Summit

Written by United States Forces – Iraq PAO Thursday, July 29, 2010

BAGHDAD –United States Forces-Iraq and Iraqi Police senior leaders met today to discuss the growing role of the Iraqi Police, who are preparing to eventually take on full responsibility for the internal security of Iraq, at the first police primacy summit here July 29.

The transition of the internal security responsibility will enable the Iraqi Army to incrementally pull out of the cities and return to its conventional defensive role.

“As the police assume responsibility for security in the cities and provinces, the Iraqi Army will focus on the overall security of the country,” said Maj. Gen. Richard J. Rowe Jr., the outgoing director of Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission.

Rowe, who was responsible for advising and training Iraqi police forces over the past year, said he saw three major areas of improvement: criminal investigations procedures, counter explosive efforts, and effective ministerial support systems within the Ministry of Interior.

“With U.S. support, the Ministry of Interior has trained and deployed an additional 100 K-9 explosive detection teams to the provinces and Baghdad, increasing this Iraqi capacity to detect and deter explosive threats by 150 percent. Additionally, the Iraqi Police General Counter-explosive Directorate will triple their trained and equipped explosive ordnance disposal teams by September, growing from six at the beginning of the year in Baghdad to 18 throughout the country,” Rowe said.

The Iraqi Police also will double their criminal evidence laboratories by 2011 from five to 10, Rowe added. And more than 75,000 Iraqi police have conducted a wide range of training including computer skills, advanced criminal investigative courses, police professionalization and personal security detachment training.

“The future is very bright and I am highly optimistic about the police role and the security of Iraq,” said Rowe.

Brig. Gen. Bradley W. May, incoming director for the Iraq Training and Advisory Team, said he can appreciate the sense of urgency as USF-I approaches the 2011 deadline.

“I am excited to partner with the Iraqi police and continue to work with them to ensure they have the advice, resources, and assistance they need to facilitate their move to the front,” Bradley said. “The role of the police will continue to be critically important.”