Post -war rehabilitation insufficient

Liberia’s Inspector General of Police Col. Gregory O.W. Coleman says “since the war ended, there hasn’t been enough done” to move disadvantaged youth “forward, and their own willingness to get back into the system has been lacking.”

“Policing has moved from just the enforcement of the law into the delivery of services as well, for the greater good of the people. We are concerned about these guys,” Col. Coleman said told an interview with journalists on Friday night, 28 October at the Liberian National Police Headquarters in Monrovia.

He suggested that post – traumatic stress disorder “is indeed a walking disaster in this country,” and that a lot “of us” are engaged with it. the Liberian National Police or LNP is are concerned about disadvantaged youth here, suggesting that since the war ended here, not much has been done to move them forward.

He said the LNP’s action to get the disadvantaged youth off the street here is not meant to go after them or violate their rights, but said it was meant to keep the city save and get all actors involved to find an immediate short and long term solution to help the youth.

Col. Coleman said some of them have been placed in homes around where they are undergoing rehabilitation, but he said they have to be willing and it also requires general support to be able to get them off the street.

He said some of the youth regarded as disadvantaged youth are productive people whom when given the chance would perform well. Col. Coleman argued that police are not just arresting people because they are in the street, but said some are either held for illegal possession of narcotic drugs, loittering or violating the laws.

Concerning his administration’s achievement, Col. Coleman says he and his team are are living up to their hundred days deliverables, claiming that they have achieved more than 50 percent of their deliverables in less than 50 days in office.

The police chief says numerous challenges are still in the police since he and his team took over the administration of the institution, but said significant improvement has been made as they work together as a body.

Mr. Coleman has cited increased police visibility, putting out more than ten new police pickups recently at various locations covering the city to have more officers and more police presence around town.

He also cited reforming of the police’s financial system which is says has seen significant progress, as well as reform in the human resource area, the reduction of crimes and advancing the police fight against sexual and gender – based violence.

By Winston W. Parley