Africa-Press – Liberia. The Inspector General of Police, Gregory Coleman, has said that Liberia is volatile and vulnerable, and as such, officers of the Liberia National Police must be proactive in the execution of their duties in order to prevent violence and crimes.
Addressing an LNP retreat recently in Ganta, Nimba County, Coleman emphasized the volatile and vulnerable state of Liberia, stressing the importance of proactive policing to prevent violence and crimes in the country. He highlighted the need for the police force to transition from a reactive to a more proactive approach in maintaining safety and peace.
“You must be more proactive in policing than being reactive,” Coleman told members of the LNP force at a retreat in Ganta recently. “Liberia is more volatile and vulnerable and the vulnerability is very high and the resilience is very low.”
He re-emphasized that, on the global scene, policing has to move from being reactive to being more proactive if society is to be safe and peaceful.
Crimes and violence remain serious security issues in the country. Despite experiencing 21 years of relative peace, Liberia continues to face security challenges as a non-progressive post-conflict country. The formal end of the conflict has not eliminated general insecurity, leaving the country susceptible to heightened rates of violence and crime.
Currently, Liberia grapples with various levels of violent post-conflict scenarios that require close attention to armed violence prevention and reduction. These include remnants of political violence, economic and crime-related violence, informal policing and community justice, post-war displacements and property disputes, and violence against women.
The Inspector General emphasized the importance of service-oriented policing and building stronger relationships with the communities. Additionally, he mentioned ongoing efforts to enhance community policing instead of recruiting more police officers.
“We have to change our decisions, plans, and most importantly, our ideas toward the people we serve,” he added.
The Police Chief stressed the word ‘Serve’ many times, describing it as a keyword, saying it should resound in the minds of all the police in their service.
He told the officers, “We are on the road to bringing service and light to the police and to the people we serve.”
The IG disclosed that the LNP is not in the process of recruiting, rather; they are working to improve community policing across the country as a means of beefing up the strength of police everywhere.
The LNP on Friday, August 16, 2024, commenced a two-day self-evaluation retreat in Ganta City. The retreat focused on enhancing the Operational Wing of the LNP across the regions, with a theme centered on building public trust in the police and criminal justice system.
Coleman encouraged community engagement and feedback to improve services and trust levels.
Held under the theme “Envisioning a service-oriented police that aims to instill public trust in the police and the criminal justice system,” the retreat also aimed at recalibrating the organization, acknowledging past challenges, and seeking ways to improve operations and service delivery.
The Inspector General, deputies, and other senior officers also formed part of the retreat, where all the county commanders made presentations followed by a discussion on crime statistics.
He said if the police can build a concession with the community and abide by it, automatically the trust level will be improved and their services will be appreciated.
He said in his initial remark that serving as a police officer is an opportunity and not a privilege.
“We had over 5 million citizens. God can raise anyone from anywhere to do more than what you are doing here. Take it as a blessing,” he said.
Adding, he said, “Our action or every action should surround the pulling to sustain the peace.”
He explained that the retreat recognizes that they have to start and a few steps backward to recalibrate.
“It is an acknowledgment that we recognized that we have force and failure as an organization and we have come to this quiet place to sit and reflect on how we’ve done it and reorganize and do better,” he said.
Before the retreat, the IG toured several parts of Nimba and other countries, having town hall meetings with the citizens to strengthen and reawaken community policing.
The retreat began with a live band march on the major street of Ganta, something many described as colorful and inspiring.
“I enjoyed the police marching, especially the female, and it made me think about becoming a police officer,” said a young lady standing by.
Meanwhile, the retreat aimed to foster collaboration, reflection, and improvement within the Liberia National Police.
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