Yongsan military police and the Korean National Police patrolled the Itaewon area Aug. 19, to assist the Korean National Police (KNP) with community policing while enforcing the United States Forces Korea curfew. Lt. Gen. Thomas S. Vandal, commanding general of Eighth Army, put general order 1 into effect in accordance with the peninsula wide 2016 Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) exercise.
Before the patrol, Soldiers on duty met with the Korean National Police (KNP) at the Itaewon KNP box. Sgt. Brandon M. Torres, the noncommissioned officer in charge, explained "My responsibility tonight is to supervise the town patrol and ensure military police officers successfully process curfew violators."
Enforcing the regulations and policies do not come without struggles.
"The difficult part of military police duties is having to apprehend people who are in violation. As military police, we want to see every one of our teammates be successful," said Torres. "If any situation merits an apprehension the KNP will apprehend."
The military police strongly urges Soldiers to remain patient and understand that the U.S. military police have a mission and service members need to abide the rules and regulations in order to succeed. Being in violation will negatively affect anyone's Army career.
"Our nation is strong when we all work together," said Sgt. Torres.
Yongsan's military police operate both on and off post.
On post, their duty is to conduct security checks to ensure the property on the installation is monitored and free from potential mischief. Security checks include walking patrols throughout the neighborhood and school zone to establish citizen and law enforcement connection, ensuring the well-being of the community within our installation.
Off post, town patrols are dedicated to ensuring that all U.S. service members are in compliance with the Eighth Army and United States Forces Korea curfew policy. Curfew violators that are identified are escorted to the Korean National Police Box where they are picked up by a military police patrol vehicle and taken to the provost marshal office (PMO) for further processing and paperwork. The traffic patrol within USAG Yongsan is dedicated to responding to any vehicle collisions involving a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) member off post to ensure proper documentation of the accident.
The military police patrol the Itaewon area daily between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Itaewon is a hot place for U.S. Soldiers and other service members.
Social Sharing