Walking the beat with Canadian police in Afghanistan.......
Just a sampling of Canadian Police forces who are teaching the Afghan National Police, how to be competent Cops, in a war ravaged country.
It was a sitting-duck scenario and everyone knew it. But however nerve-ratting the job of dismounting and patrolling on foot one of the Americans on Tuesday called it a sphincter-tightener it also is crucial to the counter-insurgency strategy NATO is rolling out to bring the population to its side.
And crucially, there were newly minted Afghan police in the mix, all graduates of the Canadian-led training program at nearby Camp Nathan Smith, where RCMP, OPP, even Toronto cops still toil in relative obscurity.
What is especially striking is the extent to which the Canadian police mentors have extended their own footprint volunteers from cop-shops across Canada now are venturing out regularly to all 12 Kandahar police substations to monitor the progress of their newly minted trainees. In so doing, they are taking chances far beyond what the rest of the NATO civilian police mentors do.
A case in point: Toronto Police Service Const. Amir Butt (one of 11 Toronto police in the program) two days ago ventured out to dangerous District 9, a transient-filled patch of the city, when word came that a batch of his graduates had uncovered an IED.
I just needed to make sure they were following through. Their job is to create a ring of security so local Afghan civilians dont stumble onto the bomb and get killed. But sometimes they just call and tell us its there and then they run away, Butt told the Star.
But they got it right this time. And the only way we can be sure is to go out there and see for ourselves.
Read the full story at:http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/807990--walking-the-beat-with-canadian-police-in-afghanistan?bn=1#article
Constable David McIntyre from St Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police walks during a patrol in Kandahar City, southern Afghanistan Friday, Jan. 15, 2010. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) lonstable David McIntyre from St Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police walks during a patrol in Kandahar City, southern Afghanistan Friday, Jan. 15, 2010. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Canada has committed to further training of the Afghan National Police after 2011 Troop re deployment home.
A thankless task in a dangerous country. Well done to the men and women of Canada's Police Services.
Canadian Military Police advisors, being briefed, in the Hot Afghan sun.
Please show your support for these fine Police men and women, wear something Red Tomorrow Red Friday.
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
