MONROVIA – Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Cecelia Clarke has resigned as spokesperson of the Liberia National Police, citing what she describes as an unjustified administrative transfer that effectively removed her from her role.
In a resignation letter dated February 18, Madam Clarke said her decision followed a communication from the police hierarchy on February 17 informing her of her reassignment to the Protocol Department as its head. She noted that the Protocol Department had previously been led by Sam Collins.
Clarke explained that the transfer undermined her ability to continue serving as the official voice of the LNP. “I can no longer serve the institution effectively in this capacity, and as such I am resigning from the Liberia National Police in general,” she stated.
Sources speaking to Smart News Liberia allege that Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman has repeatedly undermined Madam Clarke during her tenure as spokesperson, a factor they say contributed to her decision to resign.
Clarke, a journalist and former staff member of the Liberia Broadcasting System, replaced Moses Carter as the LNP spokesperson in May 2024. Her appointment was widely regarded as a progressive move to enhance communication and public engagement within the police force.
The resignation highlights growing tensions within the upper ranks of the LNP and raises questions about administrative practices and internal politics within Liberia’s top law enforcement institution.
While the official reason given for her transfer was administrative, Clarke’s letter and sources suggest the reassignment was perceived as punitive, reflecting deeper challenges in the management and oversight of the police hierarchy.
As of now, it remains unclear who will replace Clarke as the new spokesperson of the Liberia National Police, and whether her resignation will prompt further reviews of internal protocols and personnel management within the institution.
