Iraqi Police Station to be Built in Remaining Enemy Hot Spot

An Iraqi National Policeman stands guard at a checkpoint outside the Al Akad Iraqi police station build site, Sept. 27, 2008. (Photo by Sgt. Daniel Blottenberger, 18th Military Police Brigade.)

Dispatches from the Front:

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Oct. 4, 2008 -- A black kite rises to the sky off in the distance as a convoy of military police soldiers travel down one of the most dangerous routes in Baghdad.

“They know we are here,” said Staff Sgt. Darrell Bamberg, a squad leader Multi-National Division – Baghdad, as his eyes scanned through his Humvee window, Sept. 27, at the black kites with the assumption criminal groups were signaling the arrival of Coalition forces along the route as they entered the Al Akad neighborhood.

“The guys over here don’t like us at all,” said Bamberg, referring to the criminal groups in the area of the proposed building site of a new Iraqi Police (IP) station.

The surveying of a new IP station in the Akad neighborhood was the squad’s mission for the day, as well as escorting an Iraqi Police general and several contractors to a new station build site in northeast Baghdad to conduct a site survey.

As the squad traveled the route, more black kites popped up parallel to their position and went down as they passed by en route to their destination. The squad is part of the 340th MP Co., and is an Army Reserve unit based out of New York.

“There are a lot of reports of criminal groups in the area,” said Bamberg, a native of the Bronx, N.Y., referring to an area that borders Sadr City where much of the violence that was once contained in Sadr City has crept into.

Upon arriving at the future build site, the soldiers were met by many children – some asking for water and candy. Soldiers, with comforting smiles, handed out as much as they had available.

“Our goal is to make this area secure for the citizens of Al Akad,” said Maj. Lawrence Clossum, commander, 340th MP Co., who is a native of St. Louis. “We are beginning the process of rebuilding a new station in Al Akad that will provide rule of law for the citizens of Al Akad.”

The Al Akad station existed at one point but was destroyed by criminal group attacks on the station in earlier months.

“We will have to level what’s left of the place and rebuild the station from scratch,” said Clossum, looking at the remains of the perimeter of the former IP station.

The station would be a symbol of perseverance to the criminals in the area, he added, and will demonstrate that the IP forces have the capability to protect its citizens and not back down to anyone as they rebuild their nation.

“We cannot let the criminals think they have won the fight here,” said Clossum. “It will take some time, but we will rebuild this station.”

(Story by Sgt. Daniel Blottenberger, 18th Military Police.)

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