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Kurdish immigrant : Ride-along is a lesson
in the law
24.4.2006
By David Reynolds
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Academy Student Plans To Pass On What He’s
Learned
For most at the Citizen’s Police Academy, patrolling
with an officer is as much about action as
education.
Raised in the United States, they know the rules and
don’t need to watch officers give warnings and write
tickets to know what they should and shouldn’t do.
But for Muhamed Kareem, 52, it’s different.
He came to Harrisonburg in 1998, soon after leaving
his home in Kurdistan, an autonomous region in
northern Iraq.
For him, the ride-along is a lesson in the law.
"I like to learn what is legal and illegal and what
is the law in Virginia," he said. "Now I know."
Kareem spent Friday night patrolling with Officer
Joe Palaskey of the Harrisonburg Police Department.
The ride-along was part of the Citizen’s Police
Academy, which lets civilians try police work, while
giving officers a chance to show those they serve
how they operate.
Kareem watched Palaskey write a ticket, quiet a
couple parties and warn people about drinking in
public.
Learning To Teach
With one week left in the academy, Kareem says he’s
learned a lot about police and the law.
It’s knowledge he says he’ll share with others in
Harrisonburg’s Kurdish community who are starting
life over in an unfamiliar culture.
For Kareem, bridging the gap between local
government and some of Harrisonburg’s new arrivals
is nothing new.
The 52-year-old works for Harrisonburg City Public
Schools, explaining the administration to parents.
He speaks four languages and translates to parents
who speak Arabic, Kurdish or Turkish.
So now, in addition to familiarizing new residents
with the schools, he plans to teach them about
police.
"I will share with them the information," he said.
"It’s useful stuff. It’s very important for me and
my community."
Dnr Online.com
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