US Ambassador to Liberia, Michael McCarthy, has blamed the government’s failure to provide the Liberia National Police with basic operational funds as one of the major factors that breeds corruption among officers. The US Ambassador to Liberia noted that while the country's police force is not only severely understaffed and underfunded, the lack of operational funds opens floodgates for corruption as officers have to collect money from complainants to execute arrests, among other things. Although the Liberian government has announced plans to recruit 1,000 officers, the LNP has not yet received funds to start this desperately needed process. Ambassador McCarthy believes when officials publicly announce what they have before commencing their functions, it will erase the mindset of corruption, build transparency and promote democracy. County governments comprise a fundamental component of Liberia’s democracy.
