Emulating General Hoegeng's Example in the Modern Era

The name of retired Police General Hoegeng Iman Santoso continues to resonate in the nation’s collective memory as the highest symbol of integrity, honesty, and simplicity within the National Police force. His figure is not merely a legend in the moral history of the police, but the primary benchmark for how authority should be held without compromise. Continuing the torch of his example, the annual Hoegeng Awards 2026 were held at The Tribrata, South Jakarta, on Friday evening (31/7/2026). This collaborative initiative between detikcom and CT Corp, now in its fifth year, serves as a stage for public recognition of police personnel who dedicate their lives to the community, whether under the spotlight or in the quiet of the nation’s border areas.

The Hoegeng Awards 2026 ceremony was a reflective moment for the police leadership. In his speech, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo asserted that a soldier’s true integrity is tested when they serve far from oversight. “We hope that police officers will continue to be willing to work wherever they are. Whether they are supervised or not, they work earnestly to carry out the institution’s mandate,” said General Sigit. He expressed deep appreciation to Founder & Chairman of CT Corp, Chairul Tanjung, for five years of consistently identifying exemplary figures in the field. From over 9,000 nominations submitted directly by the public this year, five names were selected through rigorous screening by an independent Expert Council. The council was strengthened by figures of integrity, including Alissa Qotrunnada Wahid from the Gusdurian Network, Putu Elvina from the National Commission on Human Rights, former acting chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission Dr Mas Achmad Santosa, National Police Commission member Gufron Mabruri, and Chairman of Commission III of the House of Representatives Dr Habiburokhman.

Chairul Tanjung emphasised that the main strength of the Hoegeng Awards lies in the independence of the nominations, which purely arise from public satisfaction. “This nomination is not proposed by the police officers themselves, but by the public,” he stated. He noted that the awards motivate officers to work with greater integrity and go beyond their basic duties and functions. He also highlighted the trend of increasing public trust in the National Police.

Behind the grand award ceremony were five stories of quiet dedication that broke the boundaries of conventional duty for the sake of justice, humanity, and the environment. Senior Superintendent Eko Budhi Purwono, serving as the executor of the Riau Regional Police’s Green Policing programme since April 2025, dedicated himself to saving the wildlife reserve area in Kampar Kiri Hulu. Understanding that local residents’ dependence on forest products stemmed from economic issues, he engaged the youth in remote areas. Collaborating with the Riau National Alms Agency, he facilitated security guard training for 50 youths, who have now been absorbed into the workforce. He explained that the programme, named ‘Jalur’, involved visiting villages to provide aid packages containing rice, sugar, and oil, while shifting the mindset of the youth. “We educate their mentality and way of thinking, so they become different individuals,” he said, adding that the training took place right on the banks of the Subayang River. He also established a Green Policing Academy and inaugurated students from early childhood to high school levels as Green Policing Ambassadors to instil environmental awareness from a young age.

Brigadier Renita Rismayanti made history as the first Indonesian policewoman to win the UN Women Police of the Year award in 2023. While serving as a Crime Database Officer for the UN Police and the Central African Police in the MINUSCA mission, she created an integrated criminal database system.