Dearborn Police Join Effort to Train Iraqi Police Officers

Editor's note: The following information was provided by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

The Dearborn Police Department was recently selected by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) as one of 23 American law enforcement agencies to provide leadership, tactical, and field training to Iraqi police officers.

The Dearborn Police Department hosted 10 female Iraqi police officers May 12-19. This all-female Iraqi police delegation is the first time female officers have participated in police training in the United States.

While training with the Dearborn Police Department, the Iraqi Police observed field training officers and techniques, were imbedded with patrol officers and specialized units, met with command staff, street officers and detention officials, and were also exposed to American police training techniques and curriculum.

The Iraqi police officers are participating in the Iraq Police Education Program (IPEP), a program managed by the IACP and its partner police departments and funded under a grant awarded to IACP by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) grant.

INL manages development programs aimed at building effective rule of law systems in over 100 countries around the world. The IPEP is a five-year, $8 million grant and has facilitated training for more than 100 Iraqi police officers since the program’s inception in 2010. Among the goals of the program is to enhance the participants professional development and introduce them to an American policing culture.

The Dearborn Police Department was chosen for its community policing efforts and for its ability to assist with the integration of the Iraqi police officials to the democratic and evidence-based culture of American policing.

According to a press release from the Department of State, this effort “will also seek to establish solid, long-term relationships as Iraqis work alongside U.S. police officers for a unique on-the-job experience.”

Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad added, “The Dearborn Police Department is proud to have provided training to this group of Iraqi female police officers. We valued this training experience and believe it serves to better safeguard the world from violent extremism.”