-Lawmakers Foresee Looming Police State
MONROVIA – At the House of Representatives’ Thursday, November 27, 2025, session, lawmakers accused the Liberia National Police (LNP) of systematic disrespect and unconstitutional harassment, with some warning that the nation is “heading for trouble.”
By Jerromie S. Walters – Sub-Editor/Legislative Reporter wjerromie@womenvoicesnewspaper_i2sktp
The tense proceedings, part of the 13th Day Sitting of the 3rd Quarter of the 2nd Session of the 55th Legislature, were triggered by two separate communications submitted by Representatives Thomas Romeo Quioh of Sinoe County Electoral District #1 and Anthony F. Williams of Maryland County Electoral District #2. Their grievance centers on the alleged undue obstruction faced by lawmakers from police officers and a subsequent plea for Plenary’s endorsement to assign an armed police officer to each member of the House for their personal security.
Representative Williams warned, “If care is not taken, I can see provocation between our bodyguards and the Liberian National Police on one of these days.” His sentiment was met with vocal agreement from numerous colleagues in the chamber, who responded with affirmations of “Of course.” In his comments, Representative Williams grounded his argument in the constitutional protections afforded to legislators, specifically citing Article 42 of the 1986 Constitution, which grants members privilege from arrest while attending, going to, or returning from legislative sessions, except for treason, felony, or breach of the peace.
He said, “The Liberia National Police can just ask us to park in the street abruptly.” Williams directed a pointed message to President Joseph Boakai, cautioning, “If you are not careful, that Police Commander will put this country into serious chaos as we go to the 2029 elections.” To illustrate the LNP’s alleged propensity for conflict, Williams referenced recent violent clashes between the police and other state security agencies. He recounted a serious riot in Kakata between the LNP and officers of the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), noting, “If the Immigration had an arm that day, it would have been something different.”
The southeastern lawmaker further cited a separate confrontation between the LNP and the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), emphasizing that in both incidents, the victim officers identified themselves but were still maltreated. Williams drew a direct parallel between these inter-agency conflicts and the current treatment of lawmakers, suggesting it stems from the same culture of “disrespect.”
He highlighted a perceived double standard, asserting that when a high-ranking LNP officer is stopped, they are immediately shown respect and allowed to proceed. “If a lawmaker identifies himself or herself, it behooves the police officer to respect the person,” Williams argued, claiming this courtesy is consistently denied to elected officials. His words: “If the police cannot provide security for us… I will bring my men from Plebo. I will put them in my car… they will be driving with me and protecting me.”
The lawmaker signaled a potential breakdown in the state’s monopoly on the use of force for its own officials. From his end, Representative Quioh provided a specific, personal account to support the claims of police unprofessionalism. He detailed an incident from a few days prior, where he was pulled over on 18th Street in Sinkor by an LNP officer identified as Marven Gaye. The officer, Quioh stated, accused him of not yielding to a pedestrian on 17th Street and insisted on confiscating his driver’s license before he could leave, despite the lawmaker identifying himself as a member of the House of Representatives.
Representative Quioh explained that he later saw the same officer at the Monrovia City Hall, where he went to attend a state function. The lawmaker said he has since been unable to retrieve his license and was informed a violation ticket would be delivered to his Capitol Hill office. “Honorable Speaker, the way some of Liberian police behave is so annoying and unprofessional and I think it deserves some harsher measures,” Quioh concluded, justifying his request for state-assigned police by pointing out that cabinet ministers already enjoy such privileges.
Representatives Williams and Quioh’s concerns were heightened by other lawmakers including Representative Jacob Debee who also alleged that he was recently issued a “violation” ticket for a vehicle bearing his official legislative license plate, suggesting the issue is not isolated. The tension and seriousness from the different experiences prompted a search for a way forward. Nimba County District #7 Representative Musa Bility proposed summoning Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman to an executive (private) session to address the allegations.
However, this proposal was met with opposition from other lawmakers, who insisted that any appearance by the Police Inspector General must be conducted in an open session, transparent to the public. As the chamber became tense, House Speaker Richard Koon intervened to seize control of the matter. Speaker Koon vowed to revert to the body with a path forward on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, stating, “We will work on it. We will handle that. I will revert to members through our chat room.”
The current legislative crisis does not exist in a vacuum but is set against a backdrop of deteriorating discipline and inter-agency conflict within Liberia’s security apparatus. A violent clash in February of this year between personnel of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) and the LNP left one police officer severely injured and sparked widespread public alarm.
That confrontation, which occurred at the intersection of S.D. Cooper Road and Tubman Boulevard, were believed to be a retaliatory attack following an incident the previous day where AFL officers were beaten by LNP personnel. Videos of the assaults circulated widely on social media, drawing sharp criticism from citizens and officials alike.
Montserrado County District #6 Representative Samuel Enders expressed the public’s fear at the time, stating, “Lack of leadership leads to lawlessness. Who’s in charge?” Further compounding these concerns are recent warnings from within the legislature itself about authoritarian overreach. In January of this year, Representative Musa Bility raised alarms about threats to Liberia’s peace and democratic progress following the detention of staffers from House Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa’s office.
“We will not tolerate the creation of a police state. The Liberian people must stand united against these actions and demand accountability,” Bility stated at the time, condemning what he described as arbitrary arrests and a troubling shift towards authoritarianism.
As recently as Tuesday, another physical altercation was reported between a Police Support Unit (PSU) officer and a Paynesville City Corporation (PCC) officer in Red Light, Paynesville.
