Aberdeen man killed in Iraq
Former police officer died when roadside bomb hits convoy near Basra

By Emily Arthur
American News Writer

A former Aberdeen police officer was killed on Wednesday in Iraq
when a roadside bomb hit a convoy he was riding in near the southern
city of Basra.
Roland Carroll Barvels, 42, was one of two men fatally wounded, an
official from DynCorp International - the security contractor
Barvels worked for - confirmed Wednesday afternoon. The other
American killed was identified as Richard Thomas Hickman, 52, of
Cave Spring, Ga.
Barvels was in Iraq assisting with the training of the Iraqi police
force. He had been assigned to the Civilian Police Advisory Training
Team, a group responsible for training and equipping the 135,000-
member force.
He leaves behind his wife Cindy of Aberdeen, two sons and two
stepsons.
Gregory Lagana, vice president of communications for DynCorp, said a
third American civilian was injured in the attack, as was an Iraqi
translator who was traveling with the group.
According to AP reports out of Iraq, coalition forces cordoned off
the scene of the Basra attack and took the wounded to the hospital.
An Associated Press photographer who was at the scene said two four-
wheel-drive vehicles were targeted near Basra, a Shiite Muslim-
dominated town about 340 miles southeast of Baghdad.
Lagana said the attack occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m. Iraqi
time.
Barvels, a law enforcement officer with nearly 20 years of
experience with various departments in the Midwest, had worked for
DynCorp since November, when he resigned from the Aberdeen Police
Department to take the job. Barvels started at the Aberdeen Police
Department in May
2000.
"The Aberdeen Police Department would like to express its deepest
sorrow to the family and friends of Roland Barvels," the department
said in a release. " ... During his time at the police department,
he diligently patrolled the streets of our city providing safety and
security to the citizens in our community. Roland possessed an
incredible ability to talk to people and (to) make anyone he talked
to feel at ease."
Barvels was instrumental in developing the South Grant Street
neighborhood watch area. He was also certified as a motorcycle
patrol officer.
Barvels, who was said to have enjoyed hunting, fishing, golf, hiking
and camping, started his law enforcement career in 1982 in
Minnesota. He also spent 12 years in various branches of the
military.
Fellow former policeman also in Iraq: Another former Aberdeen police
officer, Steve Pionk, also works for DynCorp and is stationed in
Iraq. Family members and friends said Pionk called them on Wednesday
to tell them he was fine. The American News also received an e-mail
from Pionk that confirmed he was aware of Barvels' death.
DynCorp International, which is headquartered in Irving, Texas, has
more than 14,000 employees in 35 different countries.
"These were courageous and dedicated men who were working to bring
democracy and stability to Iraq," DynCorp Chief Executive Officer
Stephen J. Cannon said in a release. "We are deeply saddened by this
tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers are with their families."
It's unknown at this time when services for Barvels might take place.
On Wednesday, administrators and officers with the Aberdeen Police
Department said they were having a hard time dealing with the loss
of their former co-worker and friend.
"Words cannot express the sense of loss we feel in his passing," the
department said in a release. "Our hearts and prayers go out to his
wife and children."