Liberian police achieve milestone

MONROVIA, Liberia, June 25 (UPI) -- The transfer of responsibility of a police training facility to Liberian forces points to the full development of a democratic force, U.N. representatives said.

Ellen Margrethe Loj, the U.N. special envoy to Liberia, praised the development during a handing-over ceremony for the National Police Training Academy in Monrovia.

Loj lauded the development as a milestone for the cooperation between the United Nations and the Liberation National Police following close to a year of strategic efforts.

A strategic plan for the Liberian police advocates increased human capital, as well as administrative improvements.

Loj gave special praise to the Netherlands for its support for the academy. Henrik Steirnblad, the U.N. police commissioner, noted the Dutch government had set aside $2 million in aid for the Liberian police.

Steirnblad said a portion of the funds should go toward encouraging women to join the ranks of the police, as well as for equipment and basic defensive gear.

The United Nations established its U.N. Mission in Liberia to monitor the cease-fire agreement between rebel forces that followed the resignation of Liberian President Charles Taylor in 2005.

"The completion and handover of the building was a significant development ahead of a donors' meeting organized by the LNP and U.N. Police for this week," UNMIL said in a news release.