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BAGHDAD, Iraq, July 25, 2006 - The clamor and the hustle
of a Baghdad market is common throughout the city as hundreds
of citizens crowd the local streets to purchase necessities for
their homes. The thriving venues of vendors are comparable to
a super market, with consumers waiting in line to purchase an
array of commodities from fresh produce to clothing to electronics.
In a small market in the Doura neighborhood of southern
Baghdad, things are no different, but according to 2LT Terry
Gambrel, platoon leader, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry
Regiment, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, Iraqi police
are focused on improving the security situation.
The Soldiers of the 2nd BN, Infantry Regiment, currently
attached to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division,
have patrolled Doura aggressively for months. Working with Iraqi
Police at their side every step of the way, the Soldiers hope
to restore peace to the neighborhood, said Gambrel, a native
of Mobile, AL. He said the police officers from the Doura Police
Station are fast becoming more proficient and capable of fighting
their enemies due to the extensive training and combined operations
conducted daily between Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces.
One of the ways Gambrel and his Soldiers are helping to improve
the Doura Police, he said, is integrating them into civil military
operations, which means conducting more combined patrols and
eventually getting the police to the point where they are operating
independently. Conducting raids, running checkpoints and securing
the area from terrorists are all ways the police will achieve
public confidence as they continue to work with the 2nd BN Soldiers,
said Gambrel.
An increased presence on the streets will help provide additional
security, but this also means attacks on the IP will increase
as well, said SPC Dana Estacio, an infantryman with
A Company, 2nd BN, a native of Susanville, CA. "There
have been many times when we are out on patrol with the police
when they have been attacked. Sometimes only a couple blocks
away from us," said Estacio while walking between vendors
inside the Doura Market.
The best way to learn is from experience, said Estacio. Even
though the terrorists are increasing attacks against the Doura
Police, they still want to do their jobs. "They do pretty
well when they're out here," he said, dismounting his humvee
just outside the market July 25. "Most of them come out
here and want to work. They want to do their jobs.
"We find a lot of (improvised-explosive devices) and get
into a lot of firefights. It's just a rough neck of the woods,"
said SGT Nolan Dawson, infantry team leader, 2nd Platoon,
A Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment.
Dawson explained the ability to gain actionable intelligence
on terrorists operating in the neighborhood is hard to come by
as most of the people fear that their families will be in danger
if they talk to the Soldiers and Iraqi Police, who patrol the
neighborhood market daily.
"Usually when we talk to the people on the streets, we try
to get information about the terrorists; but most of the time,
the conversation twists back about the water and electricity
problems they are having," Dawson said.
The citizens of the neighborhood wait until they are alone with
the Soldiers to report violence, explained Dawson. In most cases,
it is too late to locate the individuals responsible for the
crimes.
As the people of the neighborhood become confident in the police
force, Dawson said he expects the citizens will start reporting
transgressions to the Doura police so they can deal with the
problems independently.
US Army photos by SPC Jason Dangel
(4th BCT PAO, 4th Infantry Division)
2LT Terry Gambrel (Platoon Leader,
A Co, 2nd BN, 506th),
Multi-National Division - Baghdad, patrols the Doura
Market in southern Baghdad. Gambrel and his platoon,
along with Iraqi Police, conduct combined patrols to deter
terrorist activity in the Doura neighborhood. |
Iraqi policemen from the Doura police station and
soldiers from A Company, 2nd BN,
506th Infantry, patrol the Doura Market in southern
Baghdad |
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SPC Dana Estacio (A Co,
2nd BN, 506th) scales a makeshift fence during
security operations |
An Iraqi police officer from the Doura Police Station
in southern
Baghdad patrols the Doura market during a combined patrol with
soldiers from 2nd BN, 506th Infantry. |
US Army photo by SSG Brent Williams
(4th BCT PAO, 4th Infantry Division)
SGT Nolan Dawson (Team Leader,
2nd Platoon, A Co, 2nd BN, 506th)
keeps an eye on a suspected terrorist wanted for questioning
in
connection with attacks on Iraqi civilians in the Doura neighborhood
of southern Baghdad. |
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