Communicating Justice

By Melissa Chea-Annan of The Inquirer newaspaper

Training at the Police Training Academy in
Paynesville, Liberia. September 2008.
Photo © Melissa Chea-Annan.

Monrovia, October 6, 2008 -- After eight-months of intensive training in Anti-Terrorism and other crimes at the Police Training Academy in Paynesville, outside Monrovia, 139 officers of the long awaited Emergency Response Unit of the Liberia National Police, including one female, are now set to combat crimes throughout the country.

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, in special remarks last Friday said “we now have a segment of the National Police Force that can really deal with our problem.”

The Liberian leader boasted that the country now has a Force that would respond robustly to any form of crimes or rioting whenever and wherever they occur, “now we have a force that can respond when we are in trouble.”

According to the Liberian leader, her government is committed to ensure that the officers have the means to enable them to carry out their duties efficiently and effectively.

“The Emergency Response Unit would have enough vehicles to enable them reach in the various communities and neighbourhoods,” the President said. “Some of them would also be posted to some of the critical areas in the rural areas so that communities’ dwellers can feel the presence of this force that is so commendable.”

President Sirleaf also called on the officers to be law abiding citizens who would focus on restoring and enhancing public confidence in the security forces. She said they should also perform their duties according to the law.

She later praised the Police Director, Beatrice Sieh Browne, international trainers and partner countries for their numerous contributions to the successful training program of the 1^st and 2^nd classes of the Emergency Response Unit. Countries that provided financial and logistical support for the training of the Emergency Response Unit were the United States of America and the Republic of Ireland.

The Chargé d’ Affaires of the United States Embassy, Brooks A. Robinson, disclosed that the United States Government has committed more than US$7 million to the project of the Emergency Response Unit, particularly to train and equip the Unit and to build the new headquarters.

Police training session, Paynesville,
Liberia. September 2008.
Photo © Melissa Annan.

According to her, the United States will continue its strong support and during the current fiscal year, the United States Government will spend over US$56 million in support of Liberia’s security agencies.   

The United States official said they will continue to work with the UN Mission in Liberia and other partners to increase the effectiveness of the Liberia National Police, and will continue to support the training and mentoring of the Special Security Service.

At the colorful ceremony which brought together relatives and well-wishers, as well as by-passers, the officers displayed some of the tactics they learned during their training.

The Emergency Response Unit was established by the Government of Liberia as a result of a recommendation made in March 2007 to create an armed component of the Liberia National Police. The recommended strength was 500 personnel.

The purpose of the Emergency Response Unit is to deal with security and crime issues which require a higher level of tactical skill than that of regular police. It will also deal specifically with crime situations which may require the use of firearms, particularly on the arrest of armed criminals, hostage situations, violent crimes in progress and armed terrorist activities. The Emergency Response Unit will also deal with riot control, anti crime patrol in high crime areas and provide assistance in major disaster situations.

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