Can Fewer Than 700 Officers Control a Multi-Front Protest of 5,000–10,000 People?

Michael T
Jul 15
2 min read

IN PHOTO: Police Leadership and Members of the FPU

Liberia’s Formed Police Unit (FPU) is the only segment of the national police with real crowd-control training. This comprises the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) and Police Support Unit (PSU). While the FPU has 1,170 men on paper, fewer than 700 are available for deployment in protest situations. The rest are assigned to VIP protection, concession areas, or other critical assignments. Out of the Liberia National Police’s (LNP) 5,000 personnel, only about 23% are truly deployable for crowd control.

Today’s politically charged display by the police on social media has stirred public confusion about the force’s neutrality and capacity. The spectacle, widely interpreted as a show of strength ahead of the July 17 protest, prompted Insights Liberia to launch a thorough investigation into the LNP’s real capabilities. This investigation included interviews with sources from both past and current administrations, aiming to cut through official narratives and uncover the operational truth1 2 3.

Politicizing the police poses more risk than keeping it professional, especially as Liberia has the smallest police force in West Africa. If 700 officers are split across three or more protest fronts, each site is left with just over 200 officers, facing crowds that can easily outnumber them ten to one. The operational reality is that these officers would be stretched to breaking point, unable to maintain order, let alone respond to sudden escalations or violence.

No depth, no reserves: once the 700 officers are deployed, there are no reinforcements or reserves to rotate or back up exhausted teams.

Geographic disadvantage is another critical factor. Liberia’s urban sprawl and poor infrastructure make it nearly impossible to shift officers quickly between protest sites.

Resource shortages further complicate the situation. Chronic lack of vehicles, communications, and basic supplies further erodes the FPU’s ability to respond effectively2 3.

Liberia’s security architecture is fragile and fundamentally unprepared for the realities of modern, multi-front protest movements. The statistical analysis shows that fewer than 700 deployable officers cannot control a protest of 5,000–10,000 people, especially when demonstrations erupt across multiple locations. The result is a dangerously high protester-to-police ratio, leaving the force outnumbered, overstretched, and at risk of operational collapse.

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Can Fewer Than 700 Officers Control a Multi-Front Protest of 5,000–10,000 People?

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