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Joint policing event fosters base safety

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Mindy Bloem
  • 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  A big draw of living on a military installation is often the safety it provides. In keeping with that standard, law enforcement members of Pope and Fort Bragg teamed up June 10 to make the military community safer by conducting a joint Pope/Bragg policing event.

Agents from the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and members of the 43rd Security Forces Squadron partnered with Army members from the Provost Marshal Office and several military police officers to perform vehicle checks throughout Pope and Fort Bragg.

The event was an effort to deter criminal and illegal acts on the two installations.

Law enforcement members for the event set up roving checkpoints as a way to monitor several areas and catch violators unaware.

Agents checked required documents, searched vehicles for drugs and other types of contraband, verified who was in the vehicles to ensure unauthorized personnel were not getting on the installation, and asked vehicle operators if they had seen anything suspicious or out of the ordinary. Because of the event, offenders were penalized and numbers of citations were issued.

Some of the motorists expressed discontent with the wait, but most said they were pleased law enforcement was out.

"It's good for people to know we're out there 24/7," said Special Agent-in-Charge Wendell Palmer, Air Force OSI. "If we have these types of deterrents in place, people never know when they're going to have interaction with law enforcement. We want them to think their chances of getting away with something are slim. It also gives us a chance to talk to people and find out about issues happening on the installation. It provides good intel."

Sandy Murphy, an Army spouse, agreed.

"It gives you a sense of security," she said. "It's so important for people to know they are accountable. The delay was worth knowing people are watching out for us and our families."

Agent Palmer said he believes in the adage of "an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure."

"It makes our installation a safer environment in the long run," he said. "We wanted to make our presence known. It's a way to let the bad guys know we're out here and we're going to get them.

Both installation commanders were happy with the event and plan to continue these types of prevention techniques in the future, Agent Palmer said.

"It's the commander's job to maintain good order and discipline, and we're here to help him do that," he added.