MAKE NO MISTAKE the appointment of Gregory Coleman as the Inspector General of the Liberian National Police (LNP) by President Sirleaf on Friday is very much unlike any other the President has made throughout her administration as well as the National Transitional Government of Liberia between 2003 and 2005. The reason is just simple: for the first time in 13 years, Liberia is shouldering its own security responsibilities.
A SHORT, LOW-PROFILE ceremony held at the President’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs offices in Monrovia was not short of flair. Members of the National Security Council—Dr. Boima Fahnbulleh, Security Advisor, Minister of National Defense, Brownie Samukai and Frederick Cherue, Minister of Justice—were present, as well as the Len Eugene Nagbe, Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism. The now nominated Inspector General (Coleman) was flanked by the outgoing Director Chris Massaquoi and the reappointed Deputy Inspector General Abraham Kromah.
YES OF COURSE, their titles are now “Inspector General” and “Deputy Inspector General”, respectively, in conformity with the newly legislated National Police Act. The President said the nomination of the duo was manifestation of plan that had been long in the pipeline.
SHE PRAISED COL. CHRIS MASSAQUOI for serving with honor and diligence having also served as Director of the Special Security Services (SSS) now Executive Protection Services (EPS) Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN). “In fact, he nurtured Mr. Coleman, who once served as his own bodyguard and he encouraged him to progress in the force and to get additional training in the academic world enabling him to enhance his abilities and preparedness to assume these responsibilities,” President Sirleaf said of Col. Massaquoi.
“WE WANT EVERYBODY to know that Director Massaquoi continues to have the full confidence of this government, which he has served so well for so many years,” the President added. “He has skills and experience and it is still going to be required by this government and we are not discussing with him how we will continue to carry on in another role to be able to assist in the new leadership role of carrying on their function in protecting the state.” She said she hoped that the new Police leadership will tap on the experience of Director Massaquoi in the discharge of their duties.
CERTAINLY AWARE of the implications of the two nominations, which are probably the last of such until she turns over power, which means that the two men are most likely to lead the Police through the general and Presidential elections in 2017, the President allayed fear and skepticism in the Police and the overall security sector of the country by reemphasizing the confidence she reposes in the system. “Let me say that we have confidence in our security forces,” President Sirleaf re-echoed. “We continue to build upon their needs and respond to those things that they need to enable them to carry out the functions that they will be assuming as UNMIL draws down but we also have confidence that the remaining forces of UNMIL will work with them and that our nation will continue to be safe and that we will meet what the requirements for the UNMIL departure.”
THIS IS EXACTLY THE POINT, the President might have reposed her confidence in the leadership of the Police but that cannot be practicably enough to allay the fear and undo the skepticism of the public that has a significant level of mistrust in the system. Often resorting to violence themselves by trying to administer justice themselves, the public really don’t trust the security system.
THE PROBLEM is not just necessary or unnecessary skepticism. The problem is the unwillingness of a significant portion of the public to cooperate with the public through several means and in several ways. It could be a community Police forum; it could be tip-offs that lead to arrest of hiding and marauding criminals. Such Police-public cooperation cannot be attained where such grim relationship persists.
SO, THE POLICE HIERARCHY has got a tough work to do, and the issue is it is not an option they have to foster better image in the public for themselves, even if that image is unfairly viewed. For instance, the reappointment of Kromah as Deputy Inspector General for Operations is hugely symbolic and underlines all of the aforementioned. Leading series of raids and melees against motorcyclists, the Kromah is synonymous to this public mistrust. Despite the notoriety of motorcyclists—how they often breach Police regulations or where or where not to ride—this public just don’t seem to approve anything he is associated with.
BUT AS IT IS ALWAYS THE CASE, everyone, every institution has got a second chance to make things right. In this case, with the elections just in a year from now, no Police misstep will be tolerated while the cooperation of the public is highly appreciated.