LNP Confirms ‘Gun Fire’ In Barnesville’s Riot

By R Joyclyn Wea

Police Inspector General, Patrick Sudue has confirmed firing of gun in Barnesville community’s riot which led to a resident of the community Helena Nimely being wounded.

Making the confirmation on Tuesday, July 10, 2018 in a press conference at the police headquarters in Monrovia, Col. Sudue asserted that there was a gun fire but claimed that the police is investigating to establish the type of weapons that were use.

Patrick Sudue in his word bewailed “I was not in the country, but gun was fire but; the gun that was fire we are investigating whether it was a liter or non-liter weapon that was use that the investigation will establish.”

When asked as to whether or not the police are authorized to use Liter or non-liter weapons in term of riot, the Police IG answered in the affirmative; noting that police officers are authorized by law to use liter and non-liter weapons.

“Police will use liter weapon in an event or situation where there is a threat and that the threat is done with a liter force than off course, the police will use equal force; but where there is no liter force police will have to use non-liter weapon,” Col. Sudue explained.

“We have the medical report reason for which we do not want to give the medical report to the press I see it as being unethical. It is a medical report of an individual and that the report is not for public consumption. To just put the report in the public because the Liberia National Police wants to prove a case for us is not a good thing,” he added.

Meanwhile, police initial statement and that of the medical report showed that police and the hospital are not relating because initially reporters on the same were told by hospital authority that the wound was a bullet wound.

On the day of the incident, LNP Public Information officer, Moses Carter said there was no Gun fire, while 101 of the LNP, Sadatu Reeves allegedly said some officers of the LNP were undergoing investigation even though she did not mention their names; something critics see as lack of coordination in the police.

“I was not in country when this incident took place but as Inspector General of police, I am the head of the institution what I say is policy statement for the Liberia National Police and I can assure you that the case is not closed rather we are investigating and I personally will reach out to the family members,” IG Sudue said.

Sudue who refused to make the medical report available to the press, holds that medical report are not given on the day patient entered the hospital saying “I have never seen a medical doctor giving a medical report with examination, medical report comes after examination. The medical report also indicated that there was no foreign particle found in the wound.”

When asked whether the police want to covered up reason for them taking responsibility; Sudue cited that settling medical bill does not in any way mean police is guilty or wanting to cover up but rather he (Sudue) wants to leave a legacy for the LNP in order for the police to be the people’s police.

“Whenever police engage people whether riot or not and somebody is wounded, first thing the police should do is to ensure that the person is being care for; so, it’s not that the police is guilty or want to cover up something, she is a Liberian and I feel hurt if a single Liberian dies,” he stresses.

The police IG further emphasized he will not sit and see someone being victim from a riot incident and starts to shift blames adding “we are going to pay her hospital bill and ensure that she fully recovered before we start to find out who did what, our primary objective is to see that woman recovered.”