• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

December 22, 2003
Release Number: 03-12-56


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


101ST AIRBORNE, MOSUL POLICE OPEN NEW MAIN STATION

MOSUL, Iraq - The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) opened a new downtown police headquarters in Iraq's second largest city Sunday. The police headquarters will now serve as a nexus for the 4,200 policemen in Mosul, just seven months after it had been thoroughly looted following the defeat of Saddam Hussein in April.

The station is located next to another police station and includes an auditorium and a command center upstairs, where all Mosul police operations will be organized. The new police headquarters station and the renovation of the contiguous station were made possible by $118,000 of Coalition Provisional Authority funds.

The 108th Military Police Company from Fort Bragg, N.C., attached to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), has operated out of the police station since May while the facility underwent rebuilding. Sunday, with Brig. Gen. Frank Helmick, 101st Airborne Division assistant division commander (operations), the company opened the headquarters for business.

Helmick played the role of Coalition ambassador, with Ninevah province Governor Ghanim al-Basso and Mosul Police Chief Muhammad Bahawi also in attendance.
"This station will become a model for all others to emulate," said Sgt. First Class Mason Causey of Moultrie, Ga. "This is an important step in transforming the police department."

Bahawi spoke during the ceremony, calling the new station "beautiful, like a flower." The Mosul Police Chief also added some words of inspiration for his policemen. "By the hands of God, we are going to destroy the bad people because we are going to serve the citizens," he said.

Capt. Christine Whitmer of Billings, Mont., 108th MP Company commander, shared Bahawi's optimism for the new force. All of the new policemen who have joined the force since the 101st Airborne Division began operating in the Ninevah Province have completed the Mosul Police Safety Academy, an eight-week training program administered by American soldiers, she said.

Policemen have been armed with Glocks and AK-47s, issued new uniforms with internationally recognized ranks, and given additional equipment including cars.

"They're working with us, we're working with them," Whitmer said. "The wheels are turning."

-30-