PRT TIKRIT: INVESTIGATIVE JUDGES TRAINING POLICE

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 004244 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM KCRM IZ SUBJECT: PRT TIKRIT: INVESTIGATIVE JUDGES TRAINING POLICE IN SALAH AD DIN ¶1. (U) This is a PRT Tikrit, Salah ad Din cable. ¶2. (SBU) Starting in November 2006, the Salah ad Din (SaD) investigative judges began in-service training of police officers on criminal investigation procedures. This PRT- inspired initiative was started to combat the large number of criminal cases that were being dismissed due to insufficient and tainted evidence. ¶3. (SBU) In this new relationship, the investigative judges, who make initial findings to establish if cases have enough evidentiary support, hold weekly training sessions for police officers at the Tikrit Police Academy (TIPS). Training sessions include techniques for interviewing defendants; collecting, preserving, and presenting material evidence; proper security of a crime scene; and other criminal investigation procedures. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶4. (SBU) These regular training sessions should establish better professional relationships between the investigative judges and the police, who have traditionally worked at odds. As many criminal cases are currently dismissed for what the investigative judges consider sub par police work in investigations, we anticipate this training will result in a fewer number of cases dismissed for insufficient and tainted evidence. END COMMENT. ¶5. (U) For additional reporting from PRT Tikrit, Salah ad Din, please see our SIPRNET Reporting Blog: http://blogs.csp.sgov.gov/blojsom/blog/ salahaddin/. Speckhard