Following independence, a system was established, and individuals were appointed as 'favorite servants' to maintain law and order. These individuals were compensated with remuneration from cases they handled or arrests made. In 1925, President Charles D. B. King took a significant step by ordering the formation of the first Constabulary Police Force, led by Major Abraham Butler as the first Superintendent of Police. This force, comprising fifteen (15) men strategically assigned, was primarily responsible for apprehending offenders and preserving law and order.
In 1947, President William V. S. Tubman hired Sergeant Leone M. Jordan, a specialist from the Kansas City Police, USA, to reform and restructure the police force. By 1948, the job was completed, and one of the recommendations was to nationalize the police. So, there was a Legislative Enactment to legitimize the police. In 1956, the Liberia National Police was established as a legal institution enacted by law to protect and serve. This was a significant milestone in our history, and we continued to build on this legacy with the support of other law enforcement institutes.
In 2016, the Liberia National Police transitioned to a new era with the passage of the LNP Act of 2015, which repealed the Act amending the executive law with respect to the National Police Force and any other acts mandatory thereto; thereby, it established the Liberia National Police as a semi-autonomous agency under the Ministry of Justice.
History of The Liberia National Police
LNP Headquarters
LNP Officers