By Our Reporter | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – A confrontation has emerged between the pressure group Solidarity & Trust for a New Day (STAND) and the Liberia National Police following the international appointment of Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman to a senior leadership position within the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE).
While the Liberia National Police celebrated the appointment as a major international honor for Liberia and a sign of growing global confidence in Coleman’s leadership, STAND sharply rejected the recognition, describing it as an “image-laundering” campaign intended to conceal what it called a troubling legacy of brutality, abuse, and institutional failure under Coleman’s watch.
The controversy began after the Liberia National Police announced Wednesday, May 13, 2026, that Coleman had been formally designated for appointment as Co-Chair of the International Affairs Committee of NOBLE, one of the most influential law enforcement organizations in the United States and globally.
According to the police statement, the appointment will be officially conferred during NOBLE’s 50th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Training Conference scheduled for July 2026 in Dallas, Texas. The communication, signed by Incoming National President Mitchell R. Davis III, praised Coleman for his leadership in modern policing, institutional reform, and international security cooperation.
The LNP described the appointment as a proud moment not only for the police institution but also for Liberia as a whole. Police authorities argued that the recognition reflects Liberia’s increasing role in global discussions surrounding democratic policing, professional law enforcement standards, and international security collaboration.
“This appointment reflects international recognition of Inspector General Coleman’s leadership, experience in modern policing, and longstanding contributions to public safety,” the LNP stated, adding that the role would strengthen security partnerships between Liberia, the United States, and other international actors confronting transnational crime and emerging global threats.
But within hours of the announcement, STAND launched a blistering counterattack against both Coleman and the Liberia National Police, accusing the police leadership of attempting to rehabilitate its international image while serious allegations of human rights abuses remain unresolved in Liberia.
In a statement issued Thursday and signed by STAND Chairman Mulbah K. Morlu, the organization described Coleman’s elevation as “a desperate attempt to cleanse his battered image and manufacture credibility abroad.”
STAND argued that the appointment comes at a time when the Liberia National Police is still facing public criticism over what the group described as a failed attempt to mislead Liberians regarding an alleged ranking in the 2026 World Internal Security and Police Index (WISPI). According to STAND, the police had falsely claimed that the LNP was ranked the 10th best police force in Africa and 70th globally before quietly retracting the statement following public scrutiny.
“The persistent efforts by Inspector General Coleman to elevate his international standing reveal a leadership obsessed with image laundering rather than accountability, justice, and reform,” the statement asserted.
The advocacy group went further by reviving accusations linked to the deadly Kinjor protest incident involving demonstrators protesting against BEA Mountain Mining Corporation over labor conditions. STAND accused the police of using excessive force against unarmed protesters and claimed innocent young Liberians lost their lives while exercising their constitutional rights.
“Those young lives were not lost in conflict; they were murdered by state violence,” STAND alleged. “Their voices were answered not with justice, but with bullets.”
The group also referenced the controversial 2025 death of Matthew Mulbah, a mentally ill citizen whose family reportedly sought police intervention before his death. STAND claimed the incident reflected a broader pattern of brutality and lack of professionalism within the Liberia National Police.
According to the organization, no international recognition or foreign appointment can erase what it described as “the bloodshed, trauma, and painful memories” associated with Coleman’s leadership. STAND further accused the police of failing rape victims and vulnerable citizens while prioritizing international public relations victories.
“A man remembered for brutality deserves accountability, not elevation; justice, not glorification,” the statement concluded.
Despite the growing criticism, the Liberia National Police has continued to defend Coleman’s appointment as a milestone achievement for Liberia’s law enforcement sector. The institution maintains that the Inspector General’s new international role will strengthen Liberia’s participation in global efforts to combat narcotics trafficking, cybercrime, violent extremism, human trafficking, and other transnational security threats.
