USAG YONGSAN - U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan's military police Staff Sgt. Bryan Pitts and Yongsan Assistant Fire Chief Timothy Johnson met with Mapo police officers to carry out a field training exercise (FTX) July 28, at the Hongdae club district. The FTX was prepared by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Mapo Police Department to receive training from U.S. Soldiers on how to respond to crimes committed by those who fall under the Status of Forces Korea Agreement.
SOFA is an agreement between a host country and a foreign nation stationing military forces in that country. SOFA does not constitute a security management, but it establishes the rights and privileges of foreign personnel present in a host country in support of the larger security arrangement.
The Hongdae club district has reportedly served as the scene of numerous incidents involving U.S. Soldiers. To properly and safely deal with service members, Mapo police officers requested the FTX with the USAG Yongsan military police. The two organizations enjoy a long-standing, cooperative relationship, having worked together on training exercises and reviewed and improved upon procedures currently in place.
During the FTX, the group simulated a situation involving a U.S. Soldier who physically assaulted a club employee and ran off. The Soldier was soon found by the Mapo police officers and taken into custody. A U.S. government representative was called to represent the Soldier being charged with a crime.
Johnson played the role of the U.S. Soldier who got out of hand and gave an accurate portrayal of what a Soldier might look like when he or she is intoxicated. "U.S. Soldiers are usually bigger in size compared to police officers here," said Johnson. "When approaching one service member, the police officers must realize that they need to come in numbers to prevent an incident as quickly as possible. Some service members are defiant for fear of being taken into custody. Or, they have had a lot to drink, which could have serious consequences."
USAG Yongsan Safety Specialist Melanie Hart said that at any given time, the Korean government can choose to have jurisdiction over a case involving a U.S. service member. There have been several recent accidents involving a local national and U.S. citizen where the Korean government chose to take the case and prosecute the U.S. citizen. There are Soldiers, civilians and contractors in Korean prisons.
Staff Sgt. Pitts and Johnson had the chance to witness what trials U.S. service members would go through when taken into custody. After the FTX was over, everyone gathered for an after action review. Staff Sgt. Pitts said because U.S. Soldiers might display more anxiety because of the language barrier, when they are handcuffed, the Korean police should be ready with personnel who can facilitate communication until the U.S. government representative arrives.
"The Mapo Police Station is the only station carrying out a joint FTX with the U.S. military police," said Senior Inspector Cho, Hyun-joo. "I am honored to have received training and learned a lot of safety measures that we did not consider before. I thank USAG Yongsan for the support and promise to share the information with more police officers," he said.
Related Links:
U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan Homepage
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