East Java Police Chief Urges Residents to Help Maintain Public Order Through Dawn Visits
East Java Police Chief Inspector General Dekananto Eko Purwono has urged the public to help maintain security and public order during a dawn visit to Al Hikmah Mosque in Gayungsari, Surabaya. Eko said the police needed to be closer to the public and engage directly to understand problems on the ground.
“The police must be closer to the public. We need to understand problems at grassroots level, then sit down together to find solutions,” Dekananto said, as reported by Antara on Saturday (24 October 2026).
The event, which began at 3.30am Western Indonesian Time, gave East Java Police personnel an opportunity to strengthen ties with Islamic scholars and hear residents’ views on security in their neighbourhoods. It also formed part of the National Police Chief’s programme, Police Together with the Community.
Dekananto stressed that police must benefit the public. He said public trust needed to be maintained through professional, humane and principled service.
“Police must not make people’s lives harder. I urge all officers to win people’s hearts, not take their property. Never hurt the public, either through words or actions,” he said.
He also apologised for any police officers who might have acted outside the rules. Dekananto invited residents to submit criticism and suggestions to help assess police performance. He said officers found to have broken the law or violated people’s rights would face firm sanctions in accordance with the regulations.
During a discussion with worshippers, Dekananto highlighted the threat posed by drug trafficking to young people. He said the National Police Chief had made combating illicit drug distribution a priority, and that it must be pursued without compromise in East Java.
“We need information from residents. If you see drug trafficking, report it immediately. We will take firm action, including tracing the assets generated by crime,” Dekananto said.
In addition to narcotics, police are prioritising action against motor vehicle theft and robbery. He instructed officers to take every public report seriously, regardless of the amount of the victim’s loss.
“For people on low incomes, losing an item worth a certain amount can have a severe impact on their finances. That is why every report must be handled seriously,” he said.
Dekananto acknowledged that limited personnel posed a challenge to providing services to the public. Nevertheless, police would continue to seek ways to improve services and respond seriously to residents’ reports.
He also addressed residents’ complaints about disturbances caused by the excessive use of loudspeakers, known locally as sound horeg. Police would coordinate with the relevant parties to regulate their use in accordance with applicable rules.
“Through these dawn visits, we hope to break down barriers to communication. Direct feedback from residents is our energy as we work to keep East Java safe and orderly,” he said.