CAMP STRIKER — A ceremony marked the grand opening of the Al Mustafa Expedient Local Police Station, Sept. 25.
“[Without] cooperation between the tribes, residents, Iraqi Police, 17th Iraqi Army Division under the leadership of Staff Maj. Gen. Ali … we would not be able to open the Al Mustafa Iraqi Police Station,” said Brig. Gen. Abed Muhammed Allwan, Mahmudiyah Police District commander, to the sheikhs and others who came to commemorate the event.
The station will allow an increased police presence in the area and show the residents that despite a decreased number of Coalition forces, “there isn’t necessarily a security gap,” said Capt. Jessica E. Donckers, 65th Military Police Company (Airborne) commander.
“It’s one more step toward improving the security structure in Iraq,” she added.
Al Mustafa IPs can now work their own cases and conduct daily police business self-sufficiently. Prior to the station opening, they worked from Al Rasheed, about five kilometers southeast of the new station. The force has 173 IP assigned; approximately 40 officers are on duty per shift.
“With the demand of the locals and support of Maj. Gen. Khadim [Baghdad provincial director of police], we resolved to open this station, and we pledged to the people to take out the insurgents,” Allwan said. “This area between the rivers used to be the ‘Triangle of Death;’ now, it is the ‘Triangle of Life.’”
(By Sgt. 1st Class Kerensa Hardy, 101st Airborne Division)