Maryland military police help protect and defend
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1742″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css_animation=”fadeIn”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1500558795990{margin: 0px !important;border-width: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;}”]By 2nd Lt. Jessica C. Donnelly 29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1500558808932{margin: 0px !important;border-width: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;}”]Due to the need for heightened security, military police with the Maryland National Guard conducted their annual training at Fort George G. Meade, Md., June 2-14 to provide support to their active duty counterparts.
Approximately 45 members of the Maryland National Guard’s 29th Military Police Company partnered with the 241st Military Police Detachment and the Department of Emergency Services at Fort Meade to supplement security for the installation during the beginning of the trial of Bradley Manning taking place on post.
“We have been performing law and order operations including entry point security, trial security and patrol duties,” said 2nd Lt. Christopher Larkin, 29th MP Co. platoon leader.
He explained that the unit’s responsibilities included crowd control during protests that took place at the gates, ensuring that demonstrators did not attempt to access unauthorized areas and conducting security inspections of randomly selected vehicles. Due to the trial, there was a large increase of personnel traveling on and off post and while individuals were allowed to attend the trial, camera equipment and political signs were not permitted.
Once the trial was under way, the duties expanded to more law enforcement tasks including assisting post MPs in identifying and ticketing drivers using cellphones while operating a vehicle, seat belt enforcement, responding to domestic violence and sexual assault incidents, directing traffic during an installation run and even assisting when a vehicle rolled over, added Capt. Toriono Davis, 29th MP Co. commander.
The unit was originally scheduled to perform its annual training at Bethany Beach, Del., conducting United States Army Military Police School requirements for military police training, but instead took the opportunity for a real-world mission.
“You can’t fully mimic this experience and exposure just through training,” said Davis. “They are learning how 24-hour operations work. It gives them a better idea of what it’s like to work in law enforcement.”
He added that working at Fort Meade gave the soldiers the opportunity to work in a joint environment – interacting with military members from other services, military dependents and civilians. It also gave them the chance to build relationships with their active duty counterparts and learn from each other.
“During this era of downsizing, we have to work together,” said Davis. “We have to work to expand the National Guard presence.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]