Iraqi cops benefit from former Montana patrolman's experience

Tim Monzon, a 1975 graduate of McCook Senior High and a former Montana Highway Patrolman, stands beside the six-foot symbol that he painted on a blast wall in an Army compound in Iraq. (Courtesy photo)

A 1975 graduate of McCook Senior High is teaching basic police skills to Iraqi law enforcement officers, and utilizing his art talents as well.

Tim Monzon was deployed to Kuwait with the U.S. Army Reserve in 2005. While there, he witnessed the need for better law enforcement training in Iraq, and returned to that country following the end of his tour with the Army Reserves. Monzon took a job with a civilian contract company, DynCorp, to teach Iraqi police basic skills such as approaching a car, searching a building and subduing a prisoner, using skills he learned while serving as a Montana Highway Patrolman for nine years.

In his free time, Monzon drew a 6-foot symbol on a 12-foot concrete blast wall in the Army compound. The American eagle, scales of justice and dagger of defense define the work of the INF, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement.

Monzon's paint often dried in his brush before he could get it on the wall in the country's 140-degree summer, and sand storms provided another challenge.

During his first tour of duty, Monzon salvaged wood pallets from the Army scrap yard and built tables -- using tools sent from home -- for Iraqi market vendors, so they could get their goods and food offerings off the ground.

Monzon plans to return to McCook when his time in Iraq ends.