I spent a lifetime in law enforcement. I retired from the Fairfax County Police Department, just outside Washington D.C., with twenty-six years of service. During my tenure I was the commander of our police academy. Training was a large part of my background. The U. S. Department of Justice needed trained peace officers to train Iraqis in law enforcement after the military took control of the government in Iraq. Saddam had plenty of henchmen but few law enforcement officers. We needed to train a generation of law enforcement officers to protect the newly found freedom of the Iraqi people.
I was there in January when the first interim elections were held. What an amazing experience to see the Iraqis going to the polls! The candidates were running for positions using the same system that we use handing out flyers and putting up posters. For once, it wasn’t a fixed election. Excited voters would come back to the training academy and say, “Mr. Skip, Mr. Skip, I voted! I voted!” Their enthusiasm was truly inspiring.
We had a number of Iraqi policemen who had graduated from the program and had been asked to stay on to become trainers. They had to have completed the trainer program where we trained them to be instructors in western concepts of law enforcement. Sadly, one of my best Iraqi trainees was murdered right in his doorway. He was killed because he was working with Americans. This man was really loved by his fellow staff members and the students that he trained. Everyone pitched in to buy a huge black banner to honor him and placed it at the Academy. He was an amazing man who sacrificed everything for peace in his community.
The Iraqi people desire peace for the families just as we do. They long for democracy and liberty. They want to live life in a safe environment. What we are doing there is a worthy cause. It is something both my son and I believe in.
Our Father in heaven, comfort those who mourn. Our Savior who died, renew us by your resurrection life. Holy Spirit who indwells us, guide and lead us throughout our sometimes difficult journey here on earth.
Skip Mahaffee served as a law enforcement trainer for the Iraqi government in 2005. His mission was to train the Iraqi police in western law enforcement techniques. In 2006, his son Shane, an attorney/reservist, went to Iraq with a civil affairs unit. Unfortunately, Shane was seriously wounded in an IED attack and died about two weeks later. Skip has both served the cause of freedom in Iraq and experienced the ultimate cost of freedom in the loss of his son. His perspective reflects a painful truth that freedom is not free of sacrifice.
“Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, O Judah, and fulfill your vows. No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed.” (Nahum 1:15)