Police Trainer from Maine Killed in Iraq
FALLS CHURCH, Va., Sep 17, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Darrell L. Wetherbee, a former police officer from New Gloucester, Maine, was killed by sniper fire in Iraq today. Mr. Wetherbee, 46, was working as an international police liaison officer (IPLO) with DynCorp International.
The shooting occurred at approximately 12:20 p.m. local time outside the police station in the city of Hawijah, located in the province of Tikrit.
Darrell Wetherbee was assigned to the Civilian Police Advisory Training Team (CPATT), the component of the U.S. military Multinational Security Transition Command - Iraq (MNSTC-I) responsible for the U.S.-led effort to train and equip the 135,000-member Iraqi police service. DynCorp International is responsible for recruiting, training, equipping, and supporting the 700-member U.S. contingent of trainers through a contract with the U.S. Department of State.
Mr. Wetherbee had been deployed in Iraq since June 1. He had participated in two previous civilian police missions with DynCorp International, serving with the International Police Mission in Kosovo from 1999-2000 and 2001-2003.
Before his deployment to Iraq, Mr. Wetherbee was employed with the State of Maine Judicial Branch. He began his law enforcement career in 1991 with the Freeport (Maine) Police Department, where his assignments included patrol, narcotics, and criminal investigations. A certified police instructor, Mr. Wetherbee also supervised, trained, and evaluated new recruits for the Freeport Police Department. He held additional certifications in traffic accident investigation, interview and interrogation, corrections, police photography, and court security. He served in the U. S. Marine Corps from 1978 to 1986.
DynCorp International President and CEO Herbert J. Lanese said, "Darrell Wetherbee was a dedicated and courageous man who made a real difference in the world, and we are honored that he chose to work with us. Our deepest sympathies go to his family and friends."
DynCorp International is a professional services and project-management company serving civilian and military government agencies and commercial clients worldwide. Headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, it has some 14,000 employees in more than 30 countries. It had revenues of nearly $2 billion in fiscal year 2006, which ended March 31. More information about the company can be found at www.dyn-intl.com.
SOURCE: DynCorp International
DynCorp International
Gregory Lagana, 703-625-4510