City bids farewell to top crime 'reporter'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Armed with a prayer rug, a newspaper clipping of
\na new police cadet and a strong will, a young goat shepherd got
\ninto a passing truck heading to the North Sumatra capital of
\nMedan from his small hometown of Binjai many years ago.<\/p>\n
From Medan, the shepherd, now a police colonel, was then
\ntransported by bus, along with his colleagues, to Java.<\/p>\n
\"On the way, I couldn't sleep well for my goats were
\nconstantly on my mind,\" said shepherd A. Latief Rabar, a
\nspokesman for the City Police Headquarters.<\/p>\n
Latief found out that he passed the police cadet enrollment
\ntest by sneaking a peek at the local newspaper, usually closely
\nguarded by his strict father.<\/p>\n
\"A boy of my age was not allowed to take a newspaper which had
\nnot been read by our parents. But I didn't care because I wanted
\nto know whether I had made it,\" he said.<\/p>\n
His father got angry upon discovering his taking the
\nnewspaper. However, he highly appreciated his son's achievement
\nwhich, at that time, could improve their reputation in the
\nvillage and among the relatives.<\/p>\n
After serving at many posts in Java for a couple of years,
\nLatief joined the Indonesian Armed Forces Academy (AKABRI) and
\ngraduated in 1970. Fourteen years later, he was assigned as the
\ndeputy spokesman for the City Police. A year later, he was
\nappointed as deputy chief of the Tanjung Priok port. Before being
\nassigned as City Police spokesman in 1987, Latief was posted as
\ndeputy chief for the North Jakarta police precinct.<\/p>\n
After seven years<\/p>\n
Today, the 50-year-old colonel, with a son and two daughters,
\nwill officially leave his post of seven years as the City Police
\nspokesman. Latief is the longest serving police spokesman in this
\ncountry and has served four different city police chiefs.<\/p>\n
\"Actually, he could get the job of police precinct chief but
\nhe is not a man who likes to get something through illicit
\nmeans,\" said a police officer at the Tanjung Priok port.<\/p>\n
City crime reporters, Latief's daily clients, take off their
\nhats to the friendly colonel, appreciating his help and
\ncooperation to meet the prime need of the press -- news.<\/p>\n
\"I don't think there will ever be another police spokesman
\nlike him who doesn't mind being disturbed by us at any time, day
\nor night, for confirmation,\" said a reporter.<\/p>\n
On critical issues, such as a clash between two religious
\ngroups, he never asked reporters to ban the story. Instead he
\nwould give details and let them determine for themselves the
\nadvantages and disadvantages of publishing such an article.<\/p>\n
Speaking with reporters here yesterday, he argued: \"Please
\nhelp me. Do not only write about the good side of me because it
\nwill make some think that I am arrogant.\"<\/p>\n
Latief successfully handles the city crime reporters, which
\nnumber around 30, probably because of his heart as a village boy
\nand a shepherd. He is a low-profile police officer.<\/p>\n
\"For me, you're my partners, not my personnel,\" he told the
\nreporters. \"If there's problem, it should be solved through
\ndialog, not by accusing.\"<\/p>\n
Based on a decree issued by the National Police Chief, Latief
\nhas been assigned head of the sub-agency for Documentation and
\nResearch on the Information Service since March. However, he has
\nnot yet been allowed to leave his post as City Police spokesman
\nuntil today.<\/p>\n
He will be replaced by Lt. Col. Bambang Haryoko, head of the
\ntreatment of youths and students unit of the City Police, in a
\nceremony today led by City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Mochammad
\nHindarto.<\/p>\n
\"I hope that he (Bambang) can do the task far better than me,\"
\nLatief said.<\/p>\n
Keep up the good work Colonel! (bsr)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/city-bids-farewell-to-top-crime-reporter-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }