-Failed to report incident promptly to LNP authorities
By Never G. Lomo,garmahlomo@gmail.com
The Liberia National Police (LNP) has taken drastic action against several officers for firing live ammunition on unarmed protesters in the Kingsville Number 7 community on the outskirts of the capital, Monrovia recently.
When the bullets were fired, Kingsville residents were protesting and calling justice after the killing of two children, whose bodies were discovered (parts reportedly missing), after they had gone missing for days.
Speaking during a press conference at the LNP headquarters in Monrovia on Monday, Deputy Police Inspector General for Administration, Sadatu Revees said the officers did not act within the rules of engagement, which caused the killing of 18-year-old Abraham Tomay and the wounded of few others recently.
The police officers, Inspector Morris M. Dahn, ID # 0784, Sgt. Emmanuel S. Melikamue ID # 0765, Patrolman Thompson W. Pobleh ID 2680 and patrolman Josephus M. Lewis, ID # 4537 are been appropriately disrobed, interdicted 2/3 Salary payment in accordance with part iv, section 22.91, letter ‘h’ of the LNP Act of 2015.
They have been ,turned over to the Crime services department for criminal investigation for discharging their firearms illegally which resulted into serious bodily injuries of three persons; Saah Saah, Dave Mombo.
Abraham Tomay died
from his injuries at the Du-side medical center, in Firestone, Liberia.
The Deputy Police IG, Revees further stated that the responding PSU team
leader, Inspector Vincent C. Abban, ID # 0444 has been dismissed from the
Liberia National police for breaching the LNP duty manual chapter 2.1.6.12 and
police support unit standard operating procedure and new organizational
structure chapter 5.3 paragraph two, leading to poor supervision that resulted
to some of the officers under his supervision. By so doing, firearms were consequently
discharged leading to the death of one person, Abraham Tomay and injuries two
persons, Saah Saah and Dave Mombo.
The deputy head of police disclosed that additionally, he did not adhere to the
operations order “NO LETHAL WEAPON” adding that the use of firearms
could have been avoided had inspector Abban disengaged and wait for backup as
he advised by one of the team members, Josephine Sackor as established by
investigation.
Furthermore, that commissioner Walter B. Wray ii, head of the Operation
department, has been suspended for one month off the job with the appropriate
salary cut and referred him for leadership training after serving his
suspension for failure to follow through the PSU team scope of operation,
when he had earlier ordered the use of tear gas to remove the roadblocks as confirmed
in his observation in paragraph three.
“I did not get
information until the DIGP/ADM and Acting Inspector General, Sadatu
Revees(U-1017) called and informed me of shooting in the Kingville area and
someone was wounded,” Commissioner Wray ii asserted.
Count four says that DCP. Godfrey K. Kollie, has been suspended for two months
off the job with the appropriate salary cut and will be sent for leadership
training after serving his suspension for his failure to designate someone in
the Chain of command to act in his absence.
The Deputy Police chief informed Journalists that additionally, he failed to
submit an incident report through the chain of command about the incident
adding that he failed to comply with request from his investigation to produce
a written report within 12 hours after the occurrence of the incident as stated
in the police support unit standard operating procedure and new orfanizational
structure chapter 5.3 paragraph two.
It states that
immediately after an occurrence of an incident involving the use of force or
firearms or other items of law enforcement equipment and regardless of whether
or not such use resulted in death or injuries to people or damage to property,
the member of PSU concerned must verbally inform the PSU commander through the
chain of command, followed by a written report in Annex “J” hereof,
including the details of the incident within twelve hours from the time of its
occurrence.
The LNP Deputy Inspector General for administration said ACP Wadell Kwabo has
been suspended for months off the job with appropriate salary cut. He will also
be sent for leadership training after serving the suspension for his failure to
delegate responsibility to other command level officers assigned within the
rank and file of the police support unit, since indeed he was on another scene;
situation which led to endangering the lives of members of the Liberia National
police, the civilian and public at large.