Police Director Col. Chris Massaquoi spoke succinctly about the
continuous reports of corruption within the Liberian National Police
(LNP) especially the traffic division where there are incessant
complains that police officers solicit money from drivers to compromise
traffic violations which is ubiquitous and detrimental to their code of
ethics.
In an extemporaneous speech delivered during the graduation ceremony of
over 200 LNP officers, the Police Director austerely warned drivers to
desist from bribing police officers to compromise traffic violations or
risk arrest and prosecution.
Col. Massaquoi pointed out that bribery is a crime and warned LNP
officers that the security sector is not intended to amass wealth, but
to serve the people at all times as plans are underway to ensure that
they receive attractive salaries after the security sector process ends.
The LNP boss insinuated that tactical agents working as undercover cops
will be deployed at strategic locations to monitor the interaction
between drivers and police officers detailed at designated points.
The police chief further spiced up the fight against bribery for
traffic violations by including passengers who sometimes witness police
exploit against drivers to report the police officer(s) to the nearest
depot for prompt prosecution.
The retrogressive aged menace of entrenched bribery within the ranks of
the LNP has undoubtedly ‘lowered’ the morale of the force and reduced
it to systematic public ridicule where their statutory responsibility
has been dwarfed and stereotyped negatively by people they protect and
serve.
While the battle to minimize rampant corruption within the LNP has
begun with the traffic section, however, there are several sections that
also need to be highlighted and overhauled by the Director of the LNP
in order to improve its image and increase service delivery to the
vulnerable population.
For instance, most police officers detailed at various police depots
throughout the country also exploit citizens at their will and pleasure
for their own egotistic desire at the behest of complainant(s), which in
its effect violates the code of ethics of the LNP.
At most depots especially within Montserrado County and its environs,
police officers sometimes request money from complainant(s) to make an
arrest, and also request for money to buy sheets to take statements and
several other violations, which contravenes LNP ethics.
At the flip side of the violation, police depots are sometimes used as
court houses to judge cases instead of forwarding suspects and
complainants to the nearest constitutional court where there are legal
experts clothed with the authority to investigate cases and make prudent
judicial judgment.
Although the threat from Col. Massaquoi is laudable especially during
the graduation of over 200 police officers, however, we equivocally
caution the LNP boss to go beyond mere pronouncement of arrest and
prosecution of both police officers and drivers caught in bribery, but
also urge that his office adopt a more robust and practical step to
salvage the corruption syndicate.
The police are the first line of protection for citizens, and reports
of bribery within the institution have the propensity to cast negative
aspersion on its operation both among citizens and foreign residents
alike.
Police around the world are constituted to protect lives and properties
and enforce the law without fear or favor and not to be labeled as
bribery seekers by the people they are supposed to protect in earnest.
It is high time to note that we at The Focus newspaper have taken an
eagle’s eye approach to capture the prosecution of violators of your
directive in order to minimize what is now referred to as “rampant”
corruption within the LNP.
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