Police chief promises crimes reduction

Police Inspector General for Operations designate Mr. Robert W. Budy says if confirmed by the Liberian Senate, the public should expect to see a drastic reduction in crimes rate here, having recognized that Liberia’s number one problem is crimes control.

In an interview granted this paper Thursday, 8 February ahead of his confirmation hearing, Mr. Buddy says his primary goal at the Liberia National Police (LNP) is to ensure that police presence is felt in every nuke and corner of the society to reduce crimes to minimum.

Mr. Budy who has served both the LNP and the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) at senior levels has told this paper that the primary responsibilities of the police are to serve mankind, protect lives and properties and to protect the innocent against depression, deception, violence and disorder.

To combat armed robbery here, he says police will work closely with the public, with expectation that in return the public would cooperate with police officers by providing tip – off that will lead officers to arrest crimes or crimes that are in progress.

“Before what we saw here is that the public walked to the police, but now we want to turn it around and then let the police go to the public because we are considered public servants, we are not public masters,” Mr. Budy says.
The police chief for operations designate says what he has not seen over the years is police presence on the streets, resulting to high crimes rate. He unveils plans to reactivate the patrol division of the LNP which he considers the line power of the force.

He plans to get the Police Patrol Division focused on patrolling in the communities so as to ensure the police have a close working relationship with the communities and society at large.

To achieve his dream, Mr. Budy adds that he will develop strategies aimed at combating crimes, saying it will require a lot of effort from the Liberia National Police.
He expresses confidence that being a professional police officer, he will easily fit into the position because it is like he’s going back home.

Mr. Budy says he last served the police in 1994 as Assistant Director for Criminal Investigation Division (CID) Affairs, a position in which he says he managed the activities of CID and coordinated with the frontline unit or uniform operations to in a campaign to protect Monrovia and its environs against hard core criminals.
A graduate of Cuttington University Graduate School, Mr. Budy says he also acquired education in the United States before returning to Liberia to serve the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) from 2010 to 2018.

He sees his nomination as being timely, recalling his enormous services and experiences both at the LNP and LIS, saying they give him advantage in internal and border security.

By Winston W. Parley