BAGHDAD - As Coalition forces continue to transition to a more support-based role throughout the country of Iraq this year, the Iraqi people are taking more and more responsibility for the future of their country.
This was evident as senior leaders of the Karkh Local Directorate Iraqi Police met with their Police Transition Team partners of the 93rd Military Police Battalion, 8th MP "Watchdog" Brigade, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, here, April 30 to discuss the future of the Iraqi Police and their ever-increasing security responsibility in their respective communities.
"The Karkh local directorate is comprised of 10 subordinate districts with approximately 10, 000 IPs," said Capt. Adrian Foster, the Karkh Local Directorate PTT officer-in-charge.
For some of the IPs, this was their first meeting with their partners of the "War Eagle" Battalion, based out of Fort Bliss, Texas.
"The purpose of this round table discussion is to further discuss issues and concerns that we all may need to address," said Lt. Col. Thomas Byrd, commander of the 93rd MP Bn., 8th MP Bde., MND - B, and a native of Marion, Ohio. "This is not my meeting. This is our meeting."
Along with the 8th MP Bde., the IPs also brainstormed and cross-coordinated with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division Provost Marshall's Office, MND - B, during the meeting regarding changes to detainee reintegration and operations.
Byrd and his PTT teams are slated to work with local Iraqi Police officials of the traffic and patrol sectors, as well as working with the Iraqi National Police in an effort to continue their partnership to ensure a safe and secure Iraq. After each department is engaged by the battalion in these weekly engagements there will be a large conference to bring all of the forces together.
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