AKIPRESS.COM - U.S. Regional Security Officer Erik Olerud congratulated members of Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of the Interior, State Border Security Service and Prosecutor General’s Office on their successful completion of the U.S. State Department Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) Program’s Investigative Information Management course.

Twenty-four officers spent ten days with qualified instructors and learned best practices for ensuring information and operational security, controlling the dissemination of law enforcement intelligence and information, and fostering interagency cooperation. Participants considered how a human rights-based community engagement policy can contribute to their agency’s ability to combat terrorism. Moreover, attendees closely explored emerging issues in law enforcement intelligence, such as cyber intelligence (social media, smartphones, texts, emails, and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) on personal devices), predictive policing, and data analytics.

Addressing the course graduates, Mr. Olerud reflected on the importance of law enforcement intelligence in preventing terrorist attacks, the June 16th U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition operation that captured senior ISIS leader Hani Ahmed al-Kurdi in Aleppo, Syria and the recent visit of U.S. Central Command Commanding General Erik Kurilla, during which the senior U.S. defense official reiterated the U.S. commitment to supporting Kyrgyz independence and our 30-years long partnership.

Nine seminar participants from six provinces joined their colleagues from Chui Province and Bishkek for the training. The seminar participants from both the United States and the Kyrgyz Republic expressed hope for further fruitful cooperation in the field of training highly qualified specialists in the fight against terrorism. This session of the Investigative Information Management training is one of six courses scheduled in the country through July 2022.

Established in 1983, the Department of State’s Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) program is the U.S. Government’s premier counterterrorism training and equipment provider for foreign law enforcement agencies. All ATA assistance is delivered within a rule-of-law framework that promotes respect for human rights and fosters development of a self-sustaining capability through best practices such as embedded mentors and train-the-trainer programs.

ATA receives funding and policy guidance from the Bureau of Counterterrorism and is administered by the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).