KPRT trains local Afghan National Police

By Captain Stéphanie Godin

Approximately 30 members of the Afghan National Police (ANP) are currently being trained by a team of Canadian police officers with the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team (KPRT) in preparation for joint operations with Task Force Kandahar, the Canadian contingent of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

Overseeing the ANP mentorship program is Inspector Roch Deroy of the Service de police de la Ville de Montreal, who has led the KPRT civilian police section since March 2009. “The ANP men are very eager to learn and seem to be very interested in what they learn,” said Inspector Deroy. “We are teaching them to be a professional police force that lives in the community and is close to the people.”

Inspector Deroy explains the importance of the training. “This training program is key to our success here since our objective is to eventually transfer the entire security responsibilities to the local authorities.”

The trainees are learning basic policing skills, weapons handling and safety, and the correct techniques for conducting check points and searches. New to many of them are the first aid classes and the lectures on human rights. “Thanks to the Canadians who asked us to come here, we are getting good training and learning good policing behaviour,” said Lieutenant Saddiq, who is undergoing the training program.

Their commander, First Lieutenant Khalil, is very pleased with the target practice and the first aid skills they are acquiring. “Now, we can use bandages effectively and keep fighting before ever needing a medical doctor,” he said.

Enabling the Afghan national security forces in Kandahar Province to sustain a more secure environment and promote law and order is one of Canada’s top priorities in Afghanistan.