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MPs shed some light on IP operations
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq – Conducting a partnered nighttime police operation when unable to see can make the mission difficult.
Soldiers from the 1st Squad, 2nd Platoon, 772nd Military Police Company realized these challenges when they discovered their Iraqi partners didn’t have flashlights.
“During a night patrol, we went out there to do a checkpoint and quickly realized it was very difficult to do it without flashlights,” said Sgt. Glen MacDonald, 1st Squad, 2nd Platoon, 772nd MP Co., a native of Fell River, Mass. “We had to use ours but they didn’t have any at all.”
MacDonald reached out to people in his home state to see if they could help.
“I have some friends that work for Lowe’s Home Improvement, and I made some contacts through my wife, and they went up their chain-of-command to Maglite. They donated the 36 flashlights for us,” said MacDonald.
MacDonald and his squad delivered the flashlights to the Falahea station chief during a regular visit to the station April 8.
“It is helpful for us, especially while conducting searches at traffic control points during the night,” said Capt. Thwfqir, Falahea Iraqi Police station chief. “We are very appreciative for this gift from the U.S. forces.”
This equipment is essential for the IP mission.
“They need to have the bare necessities, obviously weapons and ammunition,” said MacDonald. “If they are supposed to be out at night, since the electricity around here isn’t like it’s supposed to be, they’re going to need flashlights.”
The IP of now stand better prepared to own the night and shed the light of the law in Falahea.
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