Wrongful shooting cops undergo interrogation<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Armed police officers can be a bit of a paradox. On the one hand,
\nthey can provide the public with a sense of security, while at
\nthe same time posing a threat to the very members of the public
\nthey are meant to be protecting.<\/p>\n
Over the last several months, a number of people have been
\nshot or threatened by on-duty officers and trigger-happy off-duty
\ncops.<\/p>\n
The latest incident occurred last week, when a reportedly
\ndrunk Chief Brig. Didik Haryadi took out his gun and fired into a
\ncrowd inside a bar on Jl. Daan Mogot in West Jakarta.
\nMiraculously, no one was injured in the shooting.<\/p>\n
In an earlier incident, Second Brig. Mohamad Ali reportedly
\nopened fire in front of a bar in Mangga Besar, West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
In March, Indra Rizki, a resident of Kebon Jeruk, West
\nJakarta, was hit in the neck by a stray bullet fired by an
\nofficer identified as First Insp. Slamet Riyadi. Indra died in
\nthe hospital several days later.<\/p>\n
Police said Slamet was chasing a suspected drug dealer and
\nopened fire after the suspect refused to stop.<\/p>\n
Last year, at least six innocent bystanders, including two
\nchildren, were killed by stray bullets fired by police officers.<\/p>\n
Immediately after each of these incidents, top officers
\npromised to come down hard on bad cops. However, it is not clear
\nif any of these officers have been punished.<\/p>\n
National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Zainuri Lubis said on
\nFriday none of the cases had been dropped and that the police
\nwere following internal regulations on punishing guilty officers.<\/p>\n
Zainuri said there were strict regulations that prohibited
\npolice officers from taking out their guns in public while not on
\nduty.<\/p>\n
He said the two off-duty officers accused of firing their guns
\nin public had been disciplined.<\/p>\n
\"We immediately took away their guns. We suspended them from
\nduty and even locked them up because we have no tolerance for
\nsuch misconduct,\" he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Zainuri said the process was more complicated for
\ninvestigating a shooting by an officer performing his or her
\nduties. Internal affairs has to look into these shootings to
\ndetermine whether punishment is called for.<\/p>\n
\"Deciding on a punishment takes time because the investigators
\nhave to determine whether the officer followed procedures, was
\nderelict in his or her duty, or even if the shooting was a
\ndeliberate action,\" he said.<\/p>\n
According to police regulations, Zainuri said, an officer in
\npursuit of a suspect is required to fire at least three warning
\nshots into the air before attempting to stop the suspect with a
\nnonlethal shot.<\/p>\n
\"The officer should also consider whether he is endangering
\ninnocent people by firing his weapon. If an officer fires at a
\nsuspect after firing warning shots, and the bullet hits an
\ninnocent bystander, that officer will still be sanctioned for
\nusing poor judgment,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Zainuri said any officer involved in a wrongful shooting could
\nface criminal charges or an internal hearing. Punishments can
\nrange from jail time, demotion, suspension or a transfer.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/wrongful-shooting-cops-undergo-interrogation-1447893297",
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