By Titus B. Pakalah
The conversation around rethinking police reform in Liberia often resurfaces after tragic incidents, public outrage, or international pressure. Yet real, lasting reform has remained elusive. If we are serious about building a professional, accountable, and community-centered police force, then it is time to fundamentally rethink how police reform is addressed in Liberia. Out of the cracks of pressure or embracing Gregory’s vision?
It is strange yet unarguably a fact that systemic reform in Liberia has only been an abstract reality in Liberia’s strive to strengthen its criminal justice landscape. Systems do not improve out of imaginary conclusions but by translating commitments into evidence to build a force that is seen as an ally rather than enemies within the state. Whether it is about strengthening officers’ capacity to neutralize violent uprising or leading community policing in Clara Town and some violent-prone ghettos, these approaches must be bold enough to communicate the renewed image of the Police, while exploring relationship with citizens.
On the other side, we are often made to believe that the Police are less professional and conspire with notorious criminals to exploit their citizens and as well as survive on “traffic susu” (bribe in traffic). These testimonies are either partially true or potential fibs that intend to undermine the long-lasting service the Liberia National Police has contributed to Liberia’s post-conflict reconstruction process and now. Or, well, the police and the citizens are part of these deeply wounded narratives that get into public intellectual space. Think about how a police officer was wounded in Congo Town, the only repercussion was releasing eight live bullets in the chest, arms, and legs of a mentally ill man (Matthew Mulbah) which resulted in his fatal death.
In an almost similar incident, when a 20-year-old officer, Mark D. Bracewell was hit and dragged by a taxi driver in Vai Town, resulting in his death, a fierce national debate sparked as to whether this was a case of a hero fallen in the line of duty, or a glaring example of misconduct that turned deadly? This is not my question. It is a question that was fueled by the gap between reform and revenge.
These almost similar cases fueled confrontation between the system and the public, but what we saw was a responsible response from the LNP that immediately spoke to the situations on both sides. In this pattern of response, the Police professionally addressed the nation to manage sporadic violence and consistent threats that emanated. Situations like these remind us about the effectiveness for immediate public communication.
These moments of open communication under Gregory Coleman have played a crucial role in managing sporadic violence, calming community fears, and diffusing emotionally charged environments. While challenges within the LNP remain, such as systemic underfunding and capacity strengthening, these responses underscore a vital lesson, transparent and timely communication is not a luxury, it is a necessity in our democracy. In fragile contexts like Liberia, where public trust in institutions is still recovering, immediate and honest public updates during crises can be a powerful tool for restoring confidence, preventing misinformation, and maintaining peace. Going forward, this practice must not be occasional, it must become a standard protocol embedded in how the police and all state institutions engage with the citizens they are sworn to serve.
WHY SYSTEMIC REFORM NOW:
Liberia’s current position at the Security Council where its leaders are advocating for global security or justice on behalf of different countries while its police often work under poor conditions; low pay, lack of psychological support, and inadequate technical training drives a disconnect between global demands for accountability and local progress. At the UN Security Council, Liberia is preaching multilateral cooperation, human rights norms, and accountability, but when we compare the nation’s global struggle for peace and what it does at home will undermine our credibility as the oldest African Nation “that should have known better”. The police must treat disillusionment among citizens as a core spirit of democratic value and not as a weapon against the state, or some sort of revenge mechanism. Always attempting to inflate these values will cripple the momentum to influence diplomatic ties and our global reputation.
We are heavily watched from afar, International partners, donors, and civil society will likely demand more progress on good governance, transparency, rule of law, and human rights. Being on the Security Council can open more doors for support, but only if Liberia can show it is meeting those domestic expectations. Reform now does not necessarily mean stripping a struggling officer of his job when citizens demand dismissal, it defines our readiness to provide adequate resources and technical capacity training for those service men and women.
Secondly, Liberia may be seen now as a country of peace but the true reality is, the nation is heavily divided from governance construct to citizens’ distrust. Utilizing community-centered centered-policing will build a stronger public confidence within the police, address over criminalization in less investigated crimes and give ownership to local communities. When communities are treated as partners in crime prevention, unity becomes a source of strength. In such a system, communities evolve into active watchdogs, enhancing safety and accountability at the grassroots level.
More often than not, the police have a professional standard division unit that often relies on a trained officer to deal with misconduct. While this traditional approach has been the norm, it is no longer sufficient in addressing concerns of transparency and public trust. This approach must be re-evaluated. Systemic reform in this area should prioritize the establishment of a police-civilian-led investigative system, one that combines the community’s oversight role with the technical expertise of law enforcement. Such a structure ensures more impartial, credible, and trustworthy outcomes in the handling of police misconduct. Else, the burden of destruct among citizens will continue to fuel sporadic crises in crimes that are handled by the Police.
ONE POLICE, ONE BOOT, A CALL FOR BUDGETARY SUPPORT:
Let’s twist the discourse a bit, how many times do we sit in the street or on the radio to demand that the government increase Police salaries? In context, I would think Liberian officers are less respected for the jobs they do. Why would our nation’s protectors of lives and properties walk away with less than $300.00 a month? This chronic underinvestment is not merely an economic issue, it is a structural flaw that undermines every effort at meaningful police reform.
While public outrage over police misconduct continues to grow, we have given little attention to the economic pressures and institutional neglect that officers endure daily. We must believe that low salaries and poor working conditions create an environment where corruption becomes survival, not just greed. When officers are underpaid, some resort to extortion or abuse of power, not because they are inherently corrupt, but because the system incentivizes it. This erodes professionalism and damages public trust. Think about a police officer who goes to work on average and uses one torn uniform for several years. This is unappreciative and a dangerous pattern to reform.
Budgetary neglect has consequences. This is why we must urgently call for increase and sustained budgetary support for the Liberia National Police. We must do this for institutional dignity, and for long-term peace. Notably, a well-funded police force has deterred crimes and become more professional, but letting them work on less than expected is worsening for our democracy. Let’s demand for increase.
POLITICAL EXPEDIENCE IN GBV CASES:
On August 28, 2025, J Bryant McGill was reported to Zone 8 ELWA police Depot for allegedly raping a 14-year-old child, the case was referred to Hope for Women for clinical trials and/ or investigation, it was later confirmed and established that the child was tampered with. From August 28, 2025, to September 17, 2025, the government did not take immediate action against the police’s preliminary reports and the clinical investigation. This shows how political power is used to prevent formal prosecution in cases that involve government officials.
Public cases like this put serious pressure on police leadership. I would think the Inspector General has to respond to political forces that tend to undermine public trust and meet public expectations all at the same time. Of course, I am aware that without proper structures in place, even the most well-meaning police leaders can be pushed, rushed, or influenced. That’s why it’s time to focus on building institutional safeguards, clear rules for how to handle cases involving government officials, strict timelines for investigations, and independent oversight that can hold the process accountable.
There is a deeper power dynamic at play, one that involves the push and pull between institutions with limited authority and those with executive power to act immediately. In this structure, the Liberia National Police often finds itself caught between public expectation and political pressure. So, while it is easy to single out the Inspector General for how a case is handled, we must also confront the larger issue: the influence of the Executive Branch in shaping or stalling justice. If the Office of the President, directly or indirectly, applies pressure to delay investigations or protect officials, then no reform in the police force will ever be enough. It is time we collectively shift the conversation and demand that the Presidency step back and allow law enforcement to operate without fear or interference. Ending gender-based violence and restoring public trust in justice cannot happen if political survival continues to outweigh accountability.
CLINICAL INVESTIGATION OVER EMOTIONAL OUTBURST
For decades, we have reported cases of gender-based violence (GBV) that have led to the arrest and prosecution of alleged perpetrators, individuals who, like us, are human and deserve due process. However, what continues to undermine our strongest calls for justice is the habit of avoiding or dismissing clinical investigations and factual evidence. As a Liberian human rights defender, known for leading countless anti-rape protests and exposing high-profile GBV cases, I firmly believe that our advocacy must be grounded in facts, not fueled solely by emotional outbursts. Emotions can bring urgency, but clinical evidence secures justice. That is where our strength as a movement lies, not just in raising our voices. We must continue to demand that law enforcement, medical institutions, and the courts prioritize evidence-based investigation.
Clinical investigations are expensive, and in a country like Liberia, we cannot afford to treat DNA testing or laboratory results as the sole basis for determining the presence or absence of evidence, especially in a context where resources are limited and timely action is essential.
While it is true that Gregory Coleman brings a strong background in criminal investigations, the Liberia National Police should be empowered to act swiftly and professionally based on credible preliminary findings, rather than waiting indefinitely for costly tests that may never be conducted. This does not suggest that due process should be ignored. Rather, it emphasizes the need for the Police to operate under well-established investigative protocols that incorporate survivor testimony, clinical observations, and other supporting evidence.
In cases of gender-based violence, where delays can lead to compromised investigations, silenced witnesses, or survivors abandoning their complaints, it is critical that the system respond efficiently. If Liberia is to end the cycle of impunity, it must also ensure that law enforcement agencies have the tools, training, and independence to pursue justice without political interference and without being constrained by the absence of high-cost forensic evidence. Justice must be credible, but it must also be accessible and timely.
The need for reform goes beyond individual likeness, it comes with bitterness and I am sure Gregory is facing his days.
