Inspector General of the Liberia National Police (LNP), Col. Gregory O. W. Coleman, has defended the conduct of law-enforcement authorities amid growing public criticism over alleged selective policing in recent high-profile sexual-offence cases.
In a detailed written response released on Monday, January 12, 2026, Col. Coleman acknowledged that public scrutiny of police actions is both legitimate and necessary in a democratic society.
However, he cautioned that such commentary must accurately reflect the law, investigative standards, and constitutional boundaries governing police operations.
Addressing concerns over unequal arrest practices, the Police Inspector General clarified that arrest decisions are governed by legal thresholds, not political considerations, and are inherently case-specific.
While Liberian law does not require DNA evidence as a prerequisite for arrest, he emphasized that the standard of reasonable suspicion or probable cause depends on the unique facts of each case.
According to Coleman, factors such as the timeliness of reporting, the coherence and availability of victim statements, medical or physical findings, witness corroboration, risks of flight or interference, and the immediate need to safeguard victims all influence arrest decisions.
He stressed that differing outcomes at the arrest stage do not, by themselves, amount to inconsistency or arbitrariness.
On constitutional concerns, the Police Chief noted that Article 11(c) of the Constitution guarantees equality before the law but does not mandate identical procedural outcomes in cases with differing factual circumstances.
He explained that equality protects against discrimination, not against lawful investigative discretion exercised in line with evidence and prosecutorial guidance.
Col. Coleman further underscored that an arrest is not a declaration of guilt, just as the absence of arrest does not constitute innocence or exoneration.
He said the arrest and charging of former Deputy NSA Director Peter Bonor Jallah, Jr. were based on the totality of information available to investigators at the time, assessed against legal thresholds and victim-protection considerations.
Conversely, he stated that the decision not to arrest in the allegation involving suspended Deputy Minister J. Bryant McGill should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any party or a dismissal of victims’ rights.
Investigative decisions, he said, are guided by evidentiary sufficiency, prosecutorial advice, and constitutional safeguards rather than public pressure.
The Inspector General also cautioned against the casual use of the term “cleared,” noting that insufficient evidence at a particular stage does not amount to permanent legal closure.
Investigations, he explained, are dynamic and may be reopened if new and credible evidence emerges.
On DNA evidence, Col. Coleman described it as a valuable investigative tool but warned against treating it as an absolute requirement. He noted that DNA availability depends on timing, consent, and forensic viability, and that its absence does not invalidate other lawful forms of evidence.
Likewise, he said, the presence of DNA does not override due-process protections.
Coleman further warned against framing lawful investigative judgment as “selective policing” without proof of unlawful motive, discriminatory intent, or deviation from statutory authority.
Such narratives, he cautioned, risk undermining ongoing investigations, discouraging victims from reporting crimes, pressuring investigators to act outside legal bounds, and politicizing the criminal-justice process.
Reaffirming the LNP’s commitment, the Inspector General pledged equal application of the law, protection of victims, professional and evidence-based investigations, respect for constitutional rights, and transparency within legal limits.
“Justice is not served by shortcuts, selective outrage, or public verdicts,” Col. Coleman stated.
“It is served by lawful process, evidentiary rigor, and institutional restraint—even when outcomes are uncomfortable or contested.”
