DUSHANBE, May 16, 2013, Asia-Plus – On Thursday May 16, U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan Susan Elliott and the Minister of Internal Affairs Ramazon Rahimov opened two Community Policing Centers (CPCs) in Dushanbe, in response to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) request to expand the U.S. Embassy’s nationwide Community Policing Program.

According to the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, the Program aims to improve the MVD’s capacity to serve Tajik citizens in a human rights-compliant manner and to enhance citizens’ trust in the police.  With U.S. Government support, a total of 19 CPCs have been established in nine districts throughout Tajikistan. Additional CPCs are expected to be created in coming months.

CPCs provide physical and psychologically safe spaces for police and community members to build partnerships and identify and resolve local problems related to crime, social disorder, safety, and quality of life.  They also provide Territorial Police Inspectors with comfortable, fully-equipped office spaces. Community Policing Partnership Teams (CPPT) will be established at each of the sites.  Joint trainings will be held for police and community members on community policing philosophy, partnership-building, problem-solving, and crime prevention.

The U.S. Government is committed to continuing its support and capacity development assistance to Tajikistan’s law enforcement community.  Since 1992, the U.S. Government has provided more than $1 billion in assistance programs, which enhance law enforcement and security systems, economic growth, democratic institutions, health care, and education in Tajikistan.