By: Austin S. Fallah: A Nationalist, an Advocate, and a Student of Public Policy:
In recent years, Liberia’s judicial system has experienced increasing difficulty in maintaining the enforcement of court decisions.
This predicament tends to undermine the rule of law, hollowing out the very essence of justice in the country.
Hence, it has become incumbent upon Liberians as conscious citizens to vigorously argue in favor of the formation of a robust body, akin to a Sheriff’s Department, with full arresting powers comparable to the National Police, as is done in nations where democracy prevails and the rule of law is respected and upheld.
Such a body would be entirely dedicated to enforcing court decisions, the Constitution, and all laws of the land without partiality.
Liberia’s court decisions, the Constitution, and all laws like any in democratic societies worldwide, must be respected and adhered to by all, explicitly illustrating the need for an impartial and effective mechanism to ensure their enforcement.
A Sheriff’s Department, in this regard, could indeed be an indispensable fulcrum around which the wheels of justice rotate smoothly.
Anchored by the people’s mandate and supplied with sufficient budgetary support, this body stands to usher in an unprecedented era of law enforcement in the country.
Being in a position of such significant power and influence, the holder of the department’s helm, the Sheriff, ought to be elected by the people – mirroring the electoral process of the President, Vice President, and the Members of the National Legislature.
The Sheriff’s terms of office could be 6 years, with up to reelection of three terms, and then with good conduct honorably retire.
Armed with the mandate of the people, the Sheriff would wield the authority required to ensure that legal pronouncements are enforced efficiently, thus fortifying the rule of law comprehensively.
However, establishing an entirely new department is not a simple undertaking, it would necessitate strategic planning and careful implementation.
The provision of full budgetary support from the government should come as axiomatic to legitimize and bolster this unit’s operations.
This funding would ensure significant positioning of stations in every District Capital across the country for better accessibility and heightened efficiency.
The multifaceted participation of citizens in the organization would allow it to be a truly representative law enforcement entity.
Officers, drawn from each District and deployed at Court Buildings, would enforce the laws of Liberia professionally and effectively, ultimately upholding the court’s decisions, the pillar of justice in Liberia.
Thus, the Sheriff’s Department under one central command by the Elected Sheriff can realize the fundamental principle of justice that judgments of the courts, once final, must be obeyed and enforced.
Public trust in the judiciary system would be further enhanced through the introduction of academic qualifications.
A minimum required degree program, such as a bachelor’s, for Sheriffs and all hired deputies, full police training, and court law enforcement officer training, would ensure that these key law enforcement uniform officers and agents are well-versed in legal knowledge and critical thinking, crucial elements in the competent execution of their duties.
This academic prerequisite not only adds credibility to the Sheriff’s office but also professionalizes the department, ensuring that the officers are highly capable and responsible.
It would thus promote adherence to the rule of law and uphold public faith in the country’s law enforcement system.
While the journey towards strengthening Liberia’s judicial enforcement system may seem daunting, the establishment of a People’s Sheriff’s Department imbued with full arresting powers of anyone who is found breaking the laws of the land and the Court’s decision marks a significant stride in this direction.
Ensuring that such an entity has the public’s mandate, adequate resources, and competent officers symbolizes the commitment to a future of justice that serves all impartially.
The notion of the people’s Sheriff, elected by the populace, and a department staffed with academically qualified officers, is neither utopian nor unattainable.
It is a vital necessity for the establishment of a robust law enforcement mechanism in Liberia that reinforces the fait accompli of court decisions.
Arriving at this juncture, both governmental support and conscious civic participation are non-negotiable prerequisites, the absence of which threatens to undermine the purpose, efficacy, and legitimacy of the nation’s judicial proceedings.
