Saskatoon Sgt. returns from year-long Iraq training mission

A mission to Iraq is over for Saskatoon Police Sergeant Erin Coates.

She spent one year deployed with the Combined Joint Task Force to train government and civilian security forces.

“We teach everything from handcuffing skills to human rights to basic investigations and interviewing vulnerable people,” she told John Gormley.

Going to an area often plagued by war or violence presented some perspective for trainers.

“We would talk about human rights and a lot of the classes would tell us ‘we don’t have human rights in Iraq’,” Coates explained. “You basically tell them, or teach them, yes you do and this is what every human has a right to.”

Coates’ trip marked a milestone for the program– she is the first female Canadian police officer deployed to Iraq.

But, that’s not necessarily something she believes made a big difference during her deployment.

“Absolutely I have a different perspective (than other officers) but my Czech police officer also has a different perspective from his experience,” she said. “So, I didn’t really think of it in terms like that.”

By the end of the year, Coates said the local trainers were able to do the course just as well, or better, then her team.

During her 19-year career with Saskatoon police Coates has worked within the integrated drug unit, integrated proceeds of crime unit, sex crimes unit, the divisional section within patrol, and the major crime unit.