Published: April 10, 2006
Iraqi Police Return to Ramadi After Graduating Academy
 Photo: Capt. Alfred A. Smith 2/28 BCT |
RAMADI, Iraq - Ramadi welcomed the arrival yesterday of eighty-nine new Iraqi police officers, the second group of trained officers to return to the city's neighborhoods.
The men, known as the "Sons of Al Anbar," were transported by bus to Camp Ramadi after graduating from the eight-week Iraqi police academy at the Jordan International Training Center April 8.
"The men of Ramadi need to take care of their city," said one new officer as he stepped off the bus. "If we don't stand up against the insurgents, who will?" he said, adding that his family encouraged him to become a police officer.
The Al Anbar Provincial Police Chief, Gen. Sha'aban Muhammed Samier, stressed the importance of establishing a strong Iraqi police presence in Ramadi. The IPs must be successful in order to ensure the safety of Ramadi's young, elderly, women and families, he said.
This IP class left Ramadi for the JITC in early February. In the coming days, the graduates will be measured for uniforms and receive work boots, individual body armor, and weapons. They will also receive additional training on patrolling the neighborhoods of Ramadi.
Source: 2nd Brigade Combat Team / 28th Infantry Division (M)