Toward a better police force<\/p>\n
A housewife complained that the officers at a police station
\nin Surabaya, East Java, asked for Rp 5 million in
\n\"administration fees\" when she requested to have the dossier of
\nher teenage son -- who had been detained for several days over a
\ntraffic accident -- withdrawn.<\/p>\n
The officers insisted that she pay the sum despite the fact
\nthat an amicable settlement had been reached between her son and
\nthe victim, whom he had hit in the accident. The woman managed to
\nraise only Rp 4.5 million by selling the jewelry she was wearing
\nthat day and gave the money to the officers, who refused to give
\nher a receipt and told her instead that she still owed them Rp
\n500,000.<\/p>\n
This true account took place just days before the National
\nPolice are to observe its 57th anniversary, which falls on July 1
\n-- which should also be a good day for introspection by our
\npolice force.<\/p>\n
This story tells of only one of the thousands of scandalous
\nacts by the National Police that have become accepted as the
\nnorm, carried out by unscrupulous officers in this country where
\nprotection and service to the public remain expensive novelties.<\/p>\n
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar has promised that the
\npolice will strive to establish improved standards by providing
\nthe public with better services and greater protection.<\/p>\n
It will not be easy to turn Gen. Da'i's pledge into reality,
\nalthough it may sound very simple. It is a question of mentality
\nand habit. The police will find it difficult to start a new
\nculture to replace the old established one, which has been
\nflourishing for decades.<\/p>\n
Another problem with providing the public with appropriate
\nservice and proper protection is the prevailing police mind-set,
\nwhich has become no more than rhetoric, due to, among other
\nthings, a shortage of personnel.<\/p>\n
With around 200,000 police personnel nationwide, one police
\nofficer serves about 1 million people, assuming that Indonesia's
\npopulation numbers about 200 million. According to UN standards,
\na single officer should be serving no more than 300 people.<\/p>\n
The quality of the personnel is another problem. Successive
\nrecruitment systems, which have reportedly been very poor, have
\napparently resulted in inferior officers. It is no secret that
\nbribery has always effectively served to smooth the way in police
\nrecruitment tests.<\/p>\n
Determined to transform their militaristic image, the National
\nPolice have overhauled the curriculum at the non-commissioned
\nofficers (bintara) school, the Police Academy as well as the
\nInstitute of Police Officers.<\/p>\n
Human rights and other subjects on social and cultural affairs
\nhave been adopted as obligatory in the academies, in the hope
\nthat the new officers will not only be more professional and
\nstronger, but also more conscientious and compassionate.<\/p>\n
In the future -- probably in two generations' time -- the
\nnation expects to see tougher police officers who respect the
\nrule-of-law. It is not impossible for the nation to have much
\nbetter qualified police personnel.<\/p>\n
The police have kicked off a reform movement within its ranks,
\nthe (initial) results of which we could enjoy and see, probably,
\nin the handling of demonstrations. Police escorts are available
\nto protesters taking to the streets, provided that they give
\nofficial notification beforehand as to when and where the protest
\nwould be held and how many people were expected to join. In this
\nway, the police can play a significant role in protecting both
\nthe protesters and the general public from possible chaos.<\/p>\n
We acknowledge that our police are still far from being an
\nideal force. Heated situations have frequently provoked the anger
\nof officers. At least, however, they are learning to do their
\nbest and therefore deserve our support.<\/p>\n
Soon after their separation from the military (TNI), the
\npolice have received more foreign aid for educational programs to
\npromote human rights and public order and security.<\/p>\n
One thing the National Police should keep in mind, though, is
\nthat the public's demand for more qualified police officers must
\nbe properly responded to with sincerity and accountability. Only
\nin this way can they regain the public trust, which has almost
\nvanished after decades of abuse of power.<\/p>\n
There is no other option for the police in conducting their
\ndaily duties amid Indonesia's diverse society, but to enhance
\ntheir performance and to strengthen discipline among their ranks.<\/p>\n
It is either now or never. The police must make an all-out
\neffort to win the people's hearts. How they succeed in this will
\nbe the yardstick by which their role in the national reform
\nmovement will be measured.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/toward-a-better-police-force-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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