From Protocol Blunder to Police Spokesman: IG Coleman Elevates Collins Amid Controversy
Abraham Sylvester Panto 
MONROVIA, LIBERIA: Ex-Deputy Commissioner Sam Collins has been elevated to head the Press and Public Affairs Division of the Liberia National Police (LNP) following the resignation of former spokesperson Cecelia Clarke, a move officially presented by the LNP as a strategic promotion under Inspector General Gregory Coleman’s oversight despite a widely publicised November 2025 incident in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in which Collins was physically restrained by a security officer for violating protocol.
The decision taken days ago by IG Coleman, returned a position Collins first held in 2013 and maintained through the 2015–2016 period under Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, thereby combining formal elevation with continuity of leadership.
Following his previous role managing communications for sensitive security operations, including investigations into alleged assassination plots against President Sirleaf and major criminal crackdowns in Monrovia, later, he moved to broader government responsibilities, notably serving as Assistant Minister of Defense for Public Affairs, a sequence of roles that police authorities have reportedly considered as reliance that Collins possesses the experience and institutional knowledge to lead the Press and Public Affairs Division.
Despite years of service, Collins’ career has faced scrutiny, most notably during a November 2025 LNP delegation visit to Freetown, Sierra Leone, when he was captured on video being physically restrained by a security officer after attempting to record behind the Vice President, an incident that went viral and drew criticism over his judgment and adherence to diplomatic protocol
Spokesman Collins’ return was further contextualised by the resignation of Cecelia Clarke on February 18, 2026, who attributed her decision to persistent workplace discrimination, operational constraints, structural barriers, and challenges in team collaboration, framing her departure as a professional reflection in the best interest of both herself and the institution while underscoring the pressures and complexities of managing high-profile media relations within the LNP.
"Recent developments have made it clear that resigning from my position is in the best interest of both myself and the institution,” she wrote.
Spokesman Collins appointment has prompted commentary from media analysts including Veteran Journalist and Talk Show host, Varvlee Kamara regarding internal dynamics and the influence of senior leadership in shaping personnel decisions.
"Well, I have scanty information about reasons for the transfer, but Sam doesn’t deserve this position after all the internal rift. I pray he gets the support of the Liberian media, after all,” Kamara asserted.
Inspector General Gregory Coleman has publicly insisted on Collins’ elevation, presenting it as a strategic administrative decision designed to enhance institutional engagement with the media and improve transparency across police operations, with police authorities emphasising Collins’ prior experience, leadership capacity, and familiarity with sensitive communications as justification.
Internal sources confirm that Coleman personally endorsed the reinstatement to consolidate institutional knowledge and leadership continuity, framing the decision as a considered move to strengthen the Press and Public Affairs Division in a period where public communication is paramount.
The public response to Collins’ return has been divided, reflecting a tension between confidence in experience and concerns regarding accountability, with supporters highlighting his deep institutional knowledge and prior government communications experience as assets for navigating complex media and public engagement challenges while critics contend that reinstating an officer associated with a widely publicised protocol misstep risks undermining public trust and suggests tolerance for lapses in judgment.
