Monrovia, Liberia- April 21,2020: The Joint Security says it attention has been drawn to attacks on some of its officers while enforcing the COVID-19 State of Emergency and we wish to catalogue a few of the incidents.

According to the head of the media team, H. Moses Carter, The Joint Security frowns on yesterday, April 20, 2020 and recent attacks on some of its officers by some residents.

“On February 20, 2020 at about 9:30 PM, a vehicle ran through the checkpoint at ELWA junction purposely to invade the checkpoint because the operator was out with out a coronavirus vehicle pass. The vehicle hit one officer of the Joint Security, thus causing him to lose his tooth. The vehicle operator fled the scene but was later arrested two days after and the vehicle is now impounded.

The West Point incident:

According to our officers who had gone on their regular patrol in the Township of West Point on April 20, 2020, there were some residents who opened their entertainment centers, shops and playing loud music; others were playing football while almost the entire township was seen loitering or in group discussions on the street of West Point up to 10 PM during the State of Emergency.

The Joint Security in an effort to ensure that the citizens leave the streets quietly and peacefully engaged them to close their entertainment centers, but they resisted the lawful orders from the officers and attacked the officers resulting to one officer of the Joint Security sustaining a major injury on his head and neck.

On April 20, 2020, we again received a call from some law abiding citizens in the Township of West Point that West Pointer are again disrespecting the state of Emergency. Officers were dispatched there at 8 PM. When the citizens saw some members of the Joint Security, they took to their heels which resulted to a child getting injured in the process. Through the instrumentality of the Commissioner of the Township of West Point, the injured child was taken to the JFK hospital and is responding to treatment.

As a result of this, the angry residents set up barricades, thereby preventing the Joint Security from leaving the township and threatened to burn the Police Station.” Mr. Carter stated in a release.

Meanwhile Carter further said that, It took the intervention of a backup team of officers to open corridor for free movement, there by removing the barricades. Two residents were arrested and are undergoing investigation.

“Again, during the evening hours of yesterday, April 20, 2020 at about 3:30 pm, one of our Joint Security Officers was hit by a tricycle (Kehkeh) while the operator was trying to escape the check Point at ELWA junction because he was in total violation of the State of Emergency.

The officer was taken at the JFK Hospital where the authorities of the Joint Security were told that the officer leg was broken. The officer is currently undergoing treatment.” The release added.

In a related development, the Joint Security has urged members of the public to desist from attacking and wounding officers during this Statement of Emergency and are encouraged to follow lawful instructions which are in their best interests. It says all vehicles approaching the Joint Security checkpoints must slow down for inspection.

The Joint Security stated in a release that it will not hesitate to arrest and charge anyone involved with challenging lawful instructions, running through the checkpoints and attacking officers.

In the same vein, it says, officers enforcing this State of Emergency have also been mandated to observe the fundamental rights of our citizens and show empathy for the stressful situation that all of us are faced with.

Citizens and residents are also urged to report any unprofessional action(s) of any officer with assurances that said officer(s) will be dealt with in line with the rule of law.

It is against this backdrop that the Inspector General of Police, Hon. Patrick T. Sudue, the head of the Joint Security enforcement team has mandated all officers to put down their rattans and bartons and desist from harassing and or intimidating peaceful citizens and residents.

Furthermore the release said, the authorities of Joint Security are soliciting the full cooperation of the general citizenry in respecting law enforcers and are advised to be law abiding.