Monrovia — His taking office was marred by controversy, one of which had to do with calls for increment of the salary of officers of the Liberia National Police. The call was against the backdrop that his predecessor Beatrice Munah Sieh was already in the process of increasing salary when she was changed by President Sirleaf for reasons best known to her (the president).

The police boss was reported to have been against any increment and in effect had written the minister of finance to halt any considerations as regards the planned increment.

But after spending few months in the chair, Police Inspector General Marc Amblard might have seen the need that what police officers should take home more than what they are getting as salary, as he is calling for the increment in the salary of every police officer in Liberia.

Mr. Amblard is by and large opting for salary increment for police officers because he believed that it will go a long way in preventing the police from engaging in bribery or other corrupt practices.

Instead of US90 which is the take-home salary for police officers, he wants it stepped up to US300.00, an amount which he says could serve as inducement for officers to discourage "the ugly practice of bribery, harassment and other forms of corrupt acts" which he said tend to give law enforcement officers a bleak picture.

The current amount, according to Inspector Amblard, is not enough for any police officer to cope with the many challenges they are faced with, and particularly, the present economic hardship that the country is experiencing.

Citing high price of commodities and house rents as some of the major reasons for his call, Mr. Amblard also noted that he was optimistic that when each and every police officer receives better pay, they would not demand for money or compromise the profession because "bribery is corruption".

"When security is well paid in the country, it will help to protect the security of the state, prevent the occurrence of crimes and other related offenses that will give rise to unwarranted violence, criminal activities, or fearful happenings in the country," he said, without indicating as to what time the increment in the monthly salary of police officers would take effect.

Speaking in Monrovia recently, the police boss whose preferment was opposed in many circles "for lack of experience in police training," averred that the government of Liberia through the Ministry of Finance is working out plans and modalities for the increment in the monthly salary of police officers in the country.

In anticipation of such increment, he said, "if the increment is allowed in the monthly payment of police officers, it would enable the police to perform more diligently as well as pay due respect to assignments, and consequently "this will lead to the full protection of the state and its people at all times."

It can be recalled that there has been mounting public outcry and criticism on the police in recent times for not performing well, and that failure on their part for not performing their function and duty well, has resulted into many communities in Monrovia serving as breeding grounds for crimes and other criminal related activities.