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TIKRIT (June 8, 2008) - The humvee comes to a screeching halt.
The Soldiers inside the vehicle are shaken, but they do not have
time to think. All four doors open simultaneously and the Soldiers
jump out. Before the dust settles and anyone can react, the
Soldiers of the 501st Military Police Company will have a flash
traffic control point in place.
The 501st MP Co., and the Iraqi Police recently conducted a TCP
together in the Tikrit area. A TCP is a spontaneous search of
vehicles to surprise the criminal element and catch them off guard.
They also help to ensure the security of neighborhoods.
The element of surprise is essential when setting up TCPs, said
Spc. Ryan Lee, a MP with the 501st.
"Nobody knows we are going to be here," said Spc. Robert
Oberhofer, a military police assigned to the 501st MP Co. "It's
random. We're not setting a pattern, we don't usually do this, so
they don't have time to go a different route or change their
tactics."
The IPs usually take the lead on searching vehicles, while the
Coalition forces supervise and make sure everything goes
smoothly.
Checkpoints are not designed to bring fear to the enemy, said
Sgt. Chris M. Thurston, a MP with the 501st.. TCPs also help to
build stronger relations with the population.
"We go out and interact with the people," said Oberhofer. "We
help the kids a lot. We let the people know we're not just
machines, we actually care.
"Not everyone in Iraq is an insurgent," said Oberhofer. "Right
now, this is a [hostile environment], but we are training the Iraqi
Police to maintain their own security as police officers.
"Just like anywhere in the world, you're going to have people
who are bad or have different beliefs," explained Oberhofer. "I
believe here, there are a lot of good people. We're just trying to
let them know we're not just here to hurt them, we're just trying
to help their community."
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