Iraqi Police Now Number 300,000
July 31, 2008
Iraq has increased police force by 200,000 since 2006
BAGHDAD — Iraq has nearly doubled its police force to nearly 300,000 officers.
The Iraqi Interior Ministry under Jawad Bolani said that more than 200,000 police officers were hired since 2006. The ministry said police have taken security responsibility in 10 provinces.
“These steps have not come without great sacrifice,” Maj. Gen. Abdul Karim Khalaf, the ministry’s operations director, said. “We have had 10,000 police officers killed or injured trying to bring peace to our communities.”
In a July 28 briefing, Khalaf said more than 5,700 improvised explosive devices were cleared by police since June 2006. He cited a poll that gave the police a 70 percent approval rating. The ministry has reported 285,000 officers.
“We have faced political pressures and challenges from criminals and organized crime, but now the ministry has a large support from the people,” Khalaf said.
Deputy Interior Minister Adnan Al Asadi said Iraq has trained 21,459 police officers and hired another 210,000 employees since 2006. Al Asadi said the ministry dismissed 32,000 employees as part of an effort to purge militia elements from the Iraqi security forces.
“This shows the tremendous change and growth we have experienced,” Al Asadi said.
Since 2006, the National Police have trained 20,666 policemen in basic, advanced and specialized courses, officials said. They said the training proved instrumental in police operations in 2008 in Amara, Basra and Mosul.
The ministry has also been building its energy protection force. Officials said 31,000 oil police and 16,000 electricity police have come under ministry supervision.
Officials said the ministry’s Border Enforcement Department has acquired 309 border forts and annexes. They said the department captured 327 insurgents, 1,300 illegal migrants and 1,728 smugglers over the last two years.
“What is now most needed in Iraq is the formation of a spirit of nationalism and national unity,” Al Asadi said.
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the iraqis have given the lives of alot of their best as well. we cant forget that. 300,000 cops, thats an impressive number
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:38 am“These steps have not come without great sacrifice,” Maj. Gen. Abdul Karim Khalaf, the ministry’s operations director, said. “We have had 10,000 police officers killed or injured trying to bring peace to our communities.”
Remember how all we ever heard was how sectarian the police forces were and how badly they’d been infiltrated by the militias. While certainly there was a grain of truth to this, it was always given as just another reason why we should just throw in the towel or another indication why the whole effort was just a waste of time, lives and resources. Never was a mention made of the extraordinary sacrifice and courage of these brave Iraqis who put on the uniform every day in hope of securing a better tomorrow.
I can remember seeing a video of a vehicle approaching a checkpoint (I think it was in Mosul), and the lone policeman manning it recognized that it was an attempted car bombing and had drawn his weapon and fired several shots at the driver before the vehicle exploded and he was engulfed
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:12 am“These steps have not come without great sacrifice,” Maj. Gen. Abdul Karim Khalaf, the ministry’s operations director, said. “We have had 10,000 police officers killed or injured trying to bring peace to our communities.”
Remember how all we ever heard was how sectarian the police forces were and how badly they’d been infiltrated by the militias. While certainly there was a grain of truth to this, it was always given as just another reason why we should just throw in the towel or another indication why the whole effort was just a waste of time, lives and resources. Never was a mention made of the extraordinary sacrifice and courage of these brave Iraqis who put on the uniform every day in hope of securing a better tomorrow.
I can remember seeing a video of a vehicle approaching a checkpoint (I think it was in Mosul), and the lone policeman manning it recognized that it was an attempted car bombing and had drawn his weapon and fired several shots at the driver before the vehicle exploded and he was engulfed in the blast. I couldn’t help thinking what kind of courage it most have taken to go out and man that checkpoint every day knowing that the next vehicle that approached could be bringing the end of your life.
Those serving now and those who have gone before are truely heroes.
Godspeed
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:17 amHmmm…….Missing the part where the Coalition forces (mainly American military and contracted US Law Enforcement agents/officers) have been supervising/conducting the training. Earlier this year the IP’s in/around Fallujah took the lead in conducting the training but there are still US Advisors and PITT’s (Police Intergration Training Team’s) imbeded at the training facilities and police stations.
The Iraqi’s have come along way towards having professional law enforcement officers.
August 2nd, 2008 at 10:05 amOnce upon a time, putting out specific numbers like that would have been a no-no.
Whatever happened to OpSec?
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:20 pm