Dibyo Widodo installed as new city police chief

Dibyo Widodo installed as new city police chief

JAKARTA (JP): National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman
Astrosemitro installed Brig. Gen. Dibyo Widodo yesterday as the
new Greater Jakarta Police chief, replacing Maj. Gen. Mochammad
Hindarto.

In his speech, Banurusman hoped the new city police chief will
be able to build a strong, solid police force to fight against
various types of crimes in the city, which have rapidly increased
in number and method.

As Jakarta is prone to crimes and traffic accidents, "a solid
and powerful team is needed," he said during the induction
ceremony in the City Traffic Police Directorate parking lot.

Hindarto held the post from March 31, 1993. Prior to his
retirement at the end of March at the age of 56, he is
temporarily appointed as a senior police officer at the National
Police Headquarters.

Dibyo was Hindarto's deputy from Sept. 13 last year. He spent
several years of his police career in East Java, North Sumatra
and Nusa Tenggara. He was an adjutant to President Soeharto for
six years in the period between 1986 and 1992.

His former position as the Jakarta police deputy chief had
been earlier handed over to Col. Hamami Nata, who is currently
still the President's adjutant.

Dibyo is expected to be promoted to major general next week,
following Armed Forces Commander Feisal Tanjung return from
abroad.

Yesterday's ceremony was attended by a wide range of senior
officers of the Armed Forces, politicians and noted figures.
Included in these were Governor Surjadi Soedirdja, City Military
Commander Maj. Gen. Wiranto and Wiranto's predecessor Maj. Gen.
Hendropriyono.

A series of parades and attractions were performed by some of
the city police personnel after the main program.

Comments

Even though there are still several cases which have yet to be
solved, many have seen that Hindarto had achieved great successes
during his two-year period as the Jakarta police chief. In
particular his constructive breakthroughs in the fight against
so-called "untouchable" criminals in the city.

The following are comments gathered by The Jakarta Post about
Hindarto as a city police chief and as a public figure:

National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman Astrosemitro said that
Hindarto "had succeeded in anticipating the trend of crime in the
capital city. I highly appreciate that."

Newly-installed Greater Jakarta Police Chief Brig. Gen. Dibyo
Widodo (Hindarto's successor): "He's my former instructor and
I'll continue all his great plans, which have not been completed
yet, such as building houses for city police personnel and his
drive to fight all types of crime."

Head of the North Jakarta police precinct Lt. Col. Edi
Darnadi: "He's good in many ways, particularly in his support for
us and our personnel when we carry out operations. He likes to
get along with us, making us, and especially our personnel, feel
protected and appreciated by him as our superior."

Yorrys Raweyai, executive chairman of the powerful Pemuda
Pancasila youth organization: "Every human being has positive and
negative characteristics. I think he has recorded quite a number
of successes in the fight against crime in this city, even though
there still are some cases which have yet to be solved."

Prasetyo, a senior city crime reporter who has known Hindarto
for over 15 years, since he was a low-ranking officer: "He was a
good and helpful police officer to reporters because he was
willing to answer any of our questions. If he could not or did
not want to answer a question, he replied with a joke. That's why
he has so many friends in the press."

First Sergeant Sigit Aquanto, his adjutant during his post as
police chief: "Bapak (meaning Sir) rarely got upset and if he
does, he never got very angry or says words in a harsh manner. He
liked to talk with us, his adjutants. He always paid great
attention to our welfare."

Chiquita Paramita Tri Novida Dewi, 20, Hindarto's only
daughter: "He's a strict father. Even at home, he's still a
police officer. For example, I'm never allowed to leave the house
in the evening without being accompanied by my brother and I have
to be home before 10 p.m. But, I really like him and his rules
because I also don't want to see something bad happen to me which
could have a negative impact on the whole family."

A female food vendor at city police headquarters: "I don't
exactly know anything about him except what I read in the
papers."

Dharma, 14, a junior student in North Jakarta: "He is similar
to Hendropriyono (former Jakarta military commander), who liked
to talk and chat with delinquent students, rather than give too
much useless advice. (bsr)