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OPA News Release: [01/28/2004]
Contact Name: Lisa
Kruska
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Tours Baghdad
Police Academy with U.S. F.O.P. President
Two-day Trip Highlights Democratization
Efforts
BAGHDAD, Iraq—U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao and Chuck
Canterbury, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police (F.O.P.) and
Jim Pasco, Executive Director of the F.O.P., toured the Baghdad Police Academy
today where they met with trainers and cadets. The Police Academy is one of the
largest job training programs currently in Iraq.
Secretary Chao stated, “Jobs and training are vital to a new Iraq.
The police are the first line against chaos in a peaceful society. The work of
the Police Academy in Baghdad is essential to ensuring that ordinary Iraqis are
able to go about their daily lives without worries in a new Iraq. The F.O.P.
represents the finest in law enforcement in America, and President
Canterbury’s announcement today that the organization will send F.O.P.
officers to help work with the Iraqi police force will help to ensure a strong
and just police force in a new Iraq.”
During the tour, the F.O.P. announced they would be sending officers to
the region to assist in the training of new Iraqi police officers.
Many Iraqis have stepped forward to secure their country by serving in
the Iraqi Police Service, the Border Police, Iraqi Civil Defense Corps and the
Facilities Protection Service. Currently, about 170,000 Iraqis are working as
part of Iraqi security forces, more than the number of Coalition troops serving
in Iraq. For example, more than 1,000 new Iraqi Army soldiers are already on
duty, assisting Coalition Forces in securing the new Iraq. Thousands more are
either in training or awaiting the beginning of their training.
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