Darwin Tetreault is helping shape Afghanistan's future

By Ken Johnston
Editor

When you think of Canadians stationed in Afghanistan do you think of shoot em up bang bang scenarios? Well for former Rainy River resident Darwin Tetreault that is the furthest from his situation over there.
Tetreault, a ten year veteran of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is serving with the Canadian Police Mission in Afghanistan in more of an advisory role than an actual policing one.
He is one of 22 members of the mission from police forces all over Canada that are working at “Demilitarizing the policing of Afghanistan,” explained Tetreault. With Canada’s combat mission ending, the use of the military to police and train police personnel in the country is shifting gears as well.
Nothing against the military, Tetreault in fact has very high praise and respect for the Canadian and N.A.T.O. forces. “They are professional soldiers and are the best at what they do. However, they do not know how to police civilians.” On the other hand, Tetreault who says he could not claim to be as good at soldiering as the military said, “We are professional police and the best at what we do. The people here need more blue and less green!”
Tetreault did not plan to end up in Afghanistan when he decided to seek a foreign assignment. Over his ten years with the RCMP he served on Patrol, on Intelligence and Recruiting. He had indicated an interest in taking a foreign posting. He thought he might end up in Guatemala, Sudan, Kosovo or New York. When the posting to Afghanistan came out he thought it would be too dangerous. But the Canada Police Mission saw that he had extensive experience with crowd control in British Columbia (where he has lived for the past 17 years). “They approached me and my wife and I talked about it. At the end of the day she said she knew this was something I always wanted to do and told me to go for it.”
While he is not involved in direct policing or combat, Tetreault said the country is definitely a dangerous place. He and his fellow Canadian Police Mission officers are within the heavily secured “Green Zone” in Kabul. Then within that the CPM group is within another fortified compound deep in the Green Zone. To go more than 500 metres he must be accompanied by another officer.
Trips further than that, and especially out into the field to meet with Afghan police forces requires extensive planning way in advance. Tetreault recounted a trip outside the Green Zone that they had to make to inspect a fire station. “We developed a planned movement two weeks ahead. The route was laid out and how much security would travel with the officer making the inspection. It took us four hours each way (there and back) to go a very short distance.” He said traffic is horrendous there and that combined with the danger of the insurgency keeps them on their toes when they are moving. But to him that is not the most frustrating part of the work there. “For me it is only getting two hours on the ground in an 8-10 hour day.” He is referring to the actual time they get to work with Afghans in a regular day when they have to travel outside the compound.
The CPM also spends a great deal of time writing new policing practises for the Afghan forces to use. “I recently held a two day seminar on crowd control techniques. We showed them tactics and practises used in Canada that are less invasive. Like using tear gas instead of hitting (people) with sticks.”
Tetreault said that so far the work they have been doing, “Makes me feel pretty good.” He said that one of their main goals is to make people feel safe with their own police protection. “They are then less likely to be bullied by the insurgents if they feel their own police will protect them.” He says he can see that the training CPM is providing is showing good results.
That coupled with the roles of Canada and so many other countries in helping to rebuild the country is setting the stage for a bright future. “Whenever on one of the long movements to do their training I have looked up and down the side streets. There is construction everywhere. They are installing water, sewer and electricity everywhere. While in five years it may not be like Rainy River, in 20 years I think this country will be able to pony up the world table as a country on its feet.”
He said that in contrast to the military approach, “We use plain language, or insert common terms into policing to create community policing. The insurgency can be beaten if the police get into the community.”
Tetreault said that there is “Abject poverty” there and all the efforts of groups in the country will hopefully help turn that situation around. “We even try to buy local products for our camp whenever possible. They may be more expensive, but it helps generate a legitimate economy.” He cited the purchase of local watermelon as an example, “It costs more but it encourages crops other than opium.” He did note that they grow the best watermelon he has ever tasted!
His tour of duty is for one year and he began it in late May. How has this affected his family? He said they miss him and vice versa. The internet allows him to stay in good communication with them even though they are almost 12 hours different on the clock. But when the net is down for any length of time he worries. However, he is allowed 85 days of time off during the year. He is taking his first 25 day leave in August and meeting his wife in Paris to celebrate their wedding anniversary.
What does he miss other than his family? He says, “You really learn to appreciate the freedoms we have in Canada. I can not go for a walk more than 500 metres without an escort.”
He also said life is very harsh and very brown there. “It is like the moon with atmosphere. Everything is brown and it is 40 C most of the time. Water is scarce, but the people are tough. They walk barefoot to work, many kilometers, hardly drink any water all day, but when you talk to them about their everyday lives you realize that people are people wherever they are in the world.”
He noted that besides watermelon being everywhere Mountain Dew appears to be the most common western drink available. “It is sold everywhere and is often enjoyed with melon.”
He admits he did think the mission would be, “More out there. We did shadow patrol the Afghan police the first few weeks.” But since then they often spend many hours a day writing new police procedures, based on Canadian civilian practises.
Tetreault said that the Afghans like Canadians. “They like that we ask them questions, are sensitive and respectful of their culture.” He said that CPM undergo intense sensitivity training before going on the mission. They also have to pass rigorous testing to qualify for the mission. “This was the most difficult physical and psychological testing I have ever underwent,” he added.
They are working hard to build a strong civilian police force there. “A strong police force equals strong government which means a strong country. If we make the country reasonably safe (investment) money will come here!” He pointed to the recent findings of the discovery of vast cashes of precious minerals the world needs in Afghanistan as a beacon for future economic growth on the world stage.
When his year is up, he plans to return to the Burnaby, B.C. area to patrol for the RCMP again.
Darwin is the son of Jessie and Louie Tetreault of Rainy River and is a Rainy River High School graduate.
Anyone wishing to send well wishes can find Darwin on Facebook or email him at darwintetreault@shaw.ca. Care packages can be sent via mail. Tetreault said to use a set price APO box at the Baudette, MN as it is faster. The address is: Cpl. Darwin Tetreault
NTM-A CTAG-P
Kabul, Afghanistan
APO AE
09356