In July 2008, the 8th MP Brigade began its move into Iraq with a pre-deployment site survey to support the upcoming deployment into the country.
They were designated as companies of the 89th MP Brigade and left for Iraq in March 2004 with days of each other.
The soldiers of the 89th MP Brigade supported operations in Honduras, Panama, Cuba, Somalia, Virgin Islands, Bosnia and Hungary.
The subordinate unit of the 89th MP Brigade that deployed for this mission was the 401st Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion.
The 49th MP Brigade reorganized on 16 January 2005, specifically to mobilize and deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
It was subordinate to the 42nd MP Group (Customs) which later reflagged as the 14th MP Brigade.
Steele had been previously reprimanded by Brigadier General Kevin McBride, commander of the 43rd MP Brigade, for "intimidating tower guards with a service pistol."
Specialist Sellen, posthumously promoted to sergeant, was killed while attached to 16th MP Brigade due to an accidental discharge of a firearm by a fellow soldier.
The 336th Military Police Battalion is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (no longer in the 11th MP Brigade, now in the 800th Military Police Brigade).
The 11th MP Brigade provides peacetime command and control of six Military Police Battalions in Pennsylvania, Texas and Maryland.