BAGHDAD, Iraq -- U.S. Army Europe's 18th Military Police Brigade's Provincial Police Transition Team assisted in transferring 600 Yamaha XJ900P police motorcycles donated by the government of Japan to Iraqi police units at Camp Victory here Dec. 15.
"It is very important forus to have these types ofvehicles in the trafficdepartment; more thanthecar,because here inIraq the streets are verybusy, and it provides ourpolice more mobility to move around in traffic,"said Lt. Col. MubdirHaliem, Iraqi policetraffic headquarters representative.
The majority of the 600motorcycles will beissued to police trafficstations within Baghdad. The distribution plan also includes issuing the motorcycles to other stations in Iraq.
The donation comes at a time when the Iraqi police are continuing to grow in capability and gain additional police officers under a police expansion plan, 18th MP officials said, adding that as police forces here improve and take on more responsibility for the security in their respective areas, the motorcycles will help with responding to the people's needs.
The 18th's PTT, in coordination with the Japanese government, civilian contractors and the Iraqi Ministry of Interior, provided security and logistical support for the transfer of the motorcycles.
The transfer from Camp Victory to the Iraq Police Traffic Headquarters in Baghdad required 26 flatbed trucks and 52 sea shipping containers. The motorcycles will be issued to Iraqi police officers once they are assembled; that process is expected to take about a month.
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