The Bureau of International Narcotic and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), through the US Embassy accredited near Monrovia has donated office equipment to the Liberia National Police (LNP).
The donation was made on Tuesday, November 2, 2021.
Welcoming the high-powered delegation at the Headquarters of the Liberia National Police, Deputy Inspector General of Police for Administration, Hon. Sadatu L. M. Reeves wholeheartedly appreciated the US government’s donation and recounted the strong relations between the LNP and US government through its Embassy and security Sector of Liberia.
The items donated include; Ten Laptops, Seven Boxes of Papers, Seven Printers, forty-eight boxes of ink, One 4G Router and Six D-Links respectively and is estimated at Nineteen Thousand Three Hundred Seventy United States dollars (USD19,370.00).
Presenting the items to the LNP at the Headquarters of the Liberia National Police on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, US Ambassador accredited near Monrovia, H.E. Michael A. McCarthy said the donation is part of the United States government’s continuous support and capacity building of the LNP through the Professional Standards Division (PSD) that is solely responsible to investigate alleged unethical behavior of officers.
He said the donation is an example of the more than $150 million that the United States Government has contributed towards Liberia’s civilian security efforts since 2005 which symbolizes the manner in which the US government work in collaboration with the Liberian government and the civil society partners.
Since 2017, the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) has supported the Carter Center’s partnership with the LNP to increase accountability and community relations through a project entitled Advancing Liberian Police Accountability and Citizen Trust (ALPACT).
The project has provided support and capacity-building to the LNP Professional Standards Division and the Civilian Complaint Review Board, among others.
The results of this project in many ways is as a result of citizens’ trust survey, including the significant increase in citizens who view LNP as a trustworthy organization, as outlined in the recent NAYMOTE poll.
According to the US envoy, he realized many challenges faced by the LNP and the lack of basic equipment and office supplies that is causing the LNP to struggle to meet its commitments to the Civilian Complaint Review Board which is of no exception.
Additionally, Ambassador McCarthy further noted that wider efforts have been made to work with the LNP to procure the necessary equipment.
H.E. Ambassador Michael A. McCarthy said he is glad to join the Carter Center in announcing that their work will continue through Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars ( $500,000) assistance from INL for their new project, “Advancing Liberian Security Sector Accountability and Public Trust.”
This project will build on the ALPACT program and will expand many of these efforts to additional partners, namely the Liberia Immigration Service and the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, with the expertise of the Carter Center, civilian security agencies will continue the vital work of building strong feedback mechanisms and earning the trust of the public”.
He said while the US government is proud to stand alongside the LNP and can point to clear and positive results of the investment of U.S. taxpayers dollars, it is also incredibly important that Liberia’s elected leaders play the leading role in the success of the LNP, first by ensuring that police receive sufficient funding to operate effectively.
He further disclosed that the Liberia National Police rightly deserves to be hailed for the progress it has made during Liberia’s peacetime, including its commitment to working with the Civilian Complaint Review Board to build trust with Liberia’s citizens.
Since 2017, the State Department’s Bureau of International has increased accountability and community relations through a supported Carter Center’s partnership with the LNP to project entitled Advancing Liberian Police Accountability Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the Liberia National Police, Inspector General of Police, Hon. Patrick Toe Sudue expressed thanks and appreciation to the United States government for its meaningful and unflinching contributions to the capacity building of the Liberia National Police over the time. He further said the US government has been supportive to the capacity building of the Liberia National Police and described the donation as timely and rewarding.
He said the Professional Standards Division of the LNP that is the direct beneficiary of the donation will be monitored in making sure that the equipment are properly managed and used by its Officers.
IGP Sudue further lamented that in an effort to gain public trust and confidence, progress has been made in collaboration with the Carter Center to revamp the “FIND OFFICER APP” which is intended to be used by the public to identify and complain officers for any unethical behavior or commend/appraise an officer for being professionally dutiful during the discharge of his/her duty.
The LNP IG lauded the Carter Center for been very instrumental in making sure that the integrity of the LNP is maintained.