Joint Patrolmen Secure Osan Streets

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Recently, U.S. Air Force Security Forces and Republic of Korea Air Police Airmen patrolled together, for the first time, the streets of Osan Air Base.

"As of now, we are slowly integrating our patrols with the air police," said Master Sgt. Kevin Polson, 51st Security Forces Squadron, air provost non-commissioned officer in charge. "As we progress, we will have the ability to possibly make the concept permanent."

The U.S. and Korean's first joint patrol was conducted June 11, and there have been several more since.

"We want the base to realize that the RoKAF Air Police is a police force too," said Sergeant Polson. "The patrols will increase over time and enhance force protection for all base personnel."

Currently when security forces arrive on scene to find an individual who does not speak English, they must call in one of their unit's civilian interpreters to assist with the situation.

Sergeant Polson said having one of the RoKAF Air Police with them would help immensely.

"Before, if we had several incidents running at the same time, the interpreter(s) would have to either be pulled away from a lesser incident, or run from one incident to the next," he went on to say.

The air police do provide an interpreter for the patrolling officers, however many of the Airmen speak English.

"The effect on the patrols will be a better working relationship with the RoKAF Air Police, as well as better community relations with RoKAF personnel in general," said Sergeant Polson.

No additional training was required for either the security forces or air police Airmen. Sergeant Polson said, "They are all trained professionals."