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Mosul is policing its own

By Polli Keller
October 17, 2005

MOSUL,Iraq (Army News Service, Oct 17, 2005)–The Mosul city government and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or USACE, are working together to renovate eight Mosul police stations.

This $1.9 million dollar project began June 2005; completion is scheduled for this year’s end. Five of the eight scheduled renovations already are complete.

These repairs provide better working conditions and a safer environment for the police officers working and living in the facilities. This post-conflict city fell into disrepair while under Sadaam Hussein’s reign and needed upgrading to make the infrastructure functional. Hussein allowed the police stations’ electrical and plumbing utilities to deteriorate and regular building maintenance was nonexistent.

Necessary renovations included opening clogged drains to prevent flooding, installing window screens, roof repair, installing air conditioning and heating, as well as installing water lines and storage tanks, and repairing restrooms.

Carpenters, masons, electricians, plumbers, and painters are a few of those hired to make the repairs. At some police stations, workers and police officials live on the premises while the construction work is completed.

The police stations represent the Iraqi government at the local level; thus, insurgents consider these projects to be targets. Coalition funds pay for the renovation contracts so they also represent a threat to the insurgency. Terrorists threaten both contractors and workers due to their efforts to rebuild the Iraqi infrastructure.

“Local Iraqi contractors were hired to perform these services. These contractors accepted these jobs at a considerable risk,” said Frank Scopa, USACE area office engineer for the Mosul Area Office.

“The renovations are obviously paid for with Coalition funds. This presents a danger to the workers. These contractors went in knowing there was a considerable risk to their lives,” said Skopa.

The Mosul Area Office manages construction and renovation of several projects in the area. Currently, 80 projects have begun in Mosul. Thirty-eight projects are complete, while 42 are ongoing.

(Editor’s note: Polli Keller is a Public Affairs Specialist and serves with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region North.)