Medaria Arradondo is an American law enforcement official who served as the Chief of the Minneapolis Police Department from 2017 to 2022. Chief Arradondo was the first black chief of the Minneapolis Police Department. His tenure will be remembered for the handling of the George Floyd murder investigation.
Speaking over the weekend at the Royal Grand Hotel in Sinkor, Arradondo pledged to support the vision of Liberia National Police (LNP) Inspector General Col Gregory O. W. Coleman.
“I want to do all I can to help support IG Coleman’s vision forward,” he said. Arradondo said with the many challenges men and women are experiencing in the LNP, they continue to show up each day to serve their various communities.
He said officers need the support of other people within the government, private sectors and youth by building relationships, adding that there will at times be setbacks but officers should not walk away from the table as he sees the momentum within the new LNP.
“We have to see all officers necessary; I wish we had a society that we will never need police officers and a society where we will never harm one another, where elders will be respected, and children protected; we going to need a good police service or also need our communities to come together to build that trust and relationship, not for today, but for the next generation. I see that good will, hope and momentum in Liberia,” Arradondo said.
Arradondo says: “In many professions, you are judged by the body of the work; only in the policing services when you do one thing that jeopardizes and violates the trust of the people, then it has a devastating impact on the pleasing services.” He mentioned that IG Coleman’s foundation and vision is being built on trust which is the only way to move the country and people forward.
Making remarks, the Deputy Inspector General of Police for Administration, Col. William K. Mulbah, thanked officers and Arradondo for gathering together to explore strategies for strengthening police service delivery in Liberia.
Col. Mulbah: ‘”We are delighted to welcome Mr. Medaria Arradondo, former Chief of Police of the Minneapolis Police Department, whose extensive expertise and insights have been instrumental in identifying key operational gaps within the LNP. His initial assessment with our senior management team on July 31, 2024, marked a critical step toward enhancing our capacity to uphold justice, protect citizens, and foster trust through community-centered policing.”
Col. Mulbah said the program was designed to build on those foundations by addressing the challenges officers face as a law enforcement agency operating in a developing nation, as it provides an opportunity to share solutions and strategic recommendations that will guide us toward more effective service delivery.
According to Col. Mulbah, the event underscores the LNP’s unwavering dedication to providing more service delivery, enhancing community safety, and creating a solid foundation for sustainable development in Liberia.
For his part, Col. Gregory Coleman thanked Chief Arradondo for supporting his vision and promised to continue building the trust among his people.
He thanked his leadership team and applauded the men and women of the LNP, urging them to continue policing services to communities and regain the trust of the people.
The gathering was organized by the Liberia National Police in collaboration with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
By T.Q. Lula Jaurey
