Published: August 4, 2025
GBARNGA, Bong County – The Liberia National Police (LNP) has suspended four senior officers in Bong County, including the County Police Commander, over administrative failures related to a presidential convoy and a major burglary investigation.
County Police Commander Farsue V. Sheriff received a one-month suspension for failing to properly secure traffic during a high-risk presidential convoy that was returning from Grand Gedeh to Monrovia following the reburial of former President Samuel K. Doe and his wife. Authorities said Sheriff allowed private and commercial vehicles to merge with the presidential motorcade, causing heavy congestion on the Bong County stretch of the route. Despite clear orders from his superiors to secure the area, Sheriff allegedly failed to enforce the directive, raising serious security concerns.
His conduct, according to internal sources, violated Section 7.2 of the LNP Duty Manual, which mandates officers to maintain public order and regulate traffic during presidential movements. He was also found in breach of Section 4.1.1 of the LNP Code of Conduct, which calls for strict compliance with lawful orders from commanding officers.
In a separate disciplinary action, three other senior officers were suspended over their handling of a burglary case at Joma’s Business Center in Gbarnga. James Kartoe, the Crime Services Division Commander, and Foster Varney, Deputy Police Commander for Administration, were both handed one-month suspensions. Kartoe was penalized for poor supervision of the CSD unit, while Varney was cited for dereliction of duty after allegedly failing to intervene when a suspect in the case was reportedly released under suspicious circumstances.
Officials said Kartoe’s lapse amounted to a violation of Section 5.2.3 of the Duty Manual, which obligates commanding officers to maintain oversight and control over their subordinate units. Varney’s failure to respond to the suspect’s release breached Section 4.1.2, which requires officers to act swiftly and decisively in matters involving criminal investigations and internal misconduct.
The most severe disciplinary measure was reserved for Patrick Sandolo, Deputy Commander for Crime Services, who was suspended for three months. Sandolo was accused of ordering the unauthorized release of the primary suspect in the Joma burglary case. While formal charges have not been filed, police sources say Sandolo is expected to be reassigned to another post and will not retain his current role in the county’s command structure.
The LNP confirmed that the suspensions officially took effect on August 1, 2025.
In the wake of the leadership shake-up, Police Chief of Operations Chris Gono has been appointed acting Commander of the LNP Bong County Detachment.
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