As part of one student’s honor project, an Iraqi police trainer, who also happens to be her father, will give a speech at EPCC about his experiences in the war-torn country.
Jacqueline Lasher’s father, Jerry will speak at the Northwest campus, room M90, on March 7 at 1 p.m.
Jerry Lasher, a retiree from the U.S. Border Patrol, developed an interest in the establishment of a functional and sustainable national police service in Iraq after exchanging several emails with a friend who was stationed in Iraq.
Lasher worked under a government contract as an instructor and technical assistant, also known as a Law Enforcement Man-agement Specialist.
He, along with about 150 others, was a part of a civilian police training team that set out to Iraq in 2005.
Their ultimate goal was to help stabilize the National Iraqi Police force.
“They [Iraqis] basically knew that we were there to help,” said Lasher. “Most of the people were glad
to see us, they welcomed the help. Of course a few
did not, but mostly they did.”
The team instructed, advised, and mentored Iraqi police officers for 13 months. Lasher and his co-workers tried to create structure to the National Iraqi Police force by trying to pattern that of an American police force.
Their duties did not require them to arrest criminals themselves, but to help build a functional, democratic country.
“Once in a while … I’d see a cadet that was really aspiring to learn, train and wanting to do the right thing.
That was an exception, that wasn’t the rule. Most of them weren’t highly motivated, but on occasion, you would find one that was,” Lasher said. “And that was a good thing.” One day during training at the academy, Lasher was a witness and victim of a common danger in Iraq.
“We had two suicide bombers try to come and blow us up. They came into our academy area, into basic training while we were on a break,” he said. “The first one ran into a group of students and blew himself up. Thirty seconds later, the second one ran into another group … and blew himself up.”
He continued, “Between the two of them, there were over 100 people killed. I was very fortunate because I was close to the first blast, but I was standing behind a cement barricade. I had a concussion and shrapnel hit me in the back but, other than that, I was okay.”
Besides this near-fatal incident, Lasher said that conditions are improving in Iraq, contrary to what the media portrays.
“Of course, the television depicts a lot of bad things happening and a few good things happening,” said Lasher.
“The war is wearing down, the fighting is getting less, the insurgents are becoming more rooted out and things are starting to get better.”
Despite the distress she underwent when her father was away in Iraq, Jacqueline Lasher always felt deep admiration for her father.
“I’m really proud of my dad. When he was over there, I worried a lot, but I knew that this was something that he felt he had to do.”
