Cablegate: Prt Tikrit: Investigative Judges Training Police

VZCZCXRO9378
PP RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #4244 3191111
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 151111Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8011
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE

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.

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Comment
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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

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