Five policemen dismissed dishonorably

Five policemen dismissed dishonorably

JAKARTA (JP): City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Dibyo Widodo
yesterday officially fired five officers for lack of discipline
and criminal acts.

After removing the fired officers's uniform in a special
ceremony at the City Police headquarters, Dibyo said; "I fully
realize that this dishonorable dismissal is too harsh to you,
your wife, children and relatives. But only such penalties enable
us to create a disciplined and dedicated police force."

The personnel were Chief Sergeant Irianto, 33, from East
Jakarta police precinct, and four others from the city police
headquarters, including 2nd Sergeant Budi Martono, 27, of the
detachment unit, 2nd Sergeant Sudarmanto, 26, of the personnel
directorate, 2nd Corporal Maman Hermansyah, 31, of the elite
Mobile Brigade Unit, and Private Walidi, 34, of the Detachment
unit.

The five policemen were recently judged guilty by the military
tribunal, which demanded that they be dismissed from their posts.

Dibyo, known for his hard discipline attitude, said during
this year alone, his office has recorded a total of 220 crime and
other violations committed by its members.

The crimes and violations included 70 assaults, 69 desertions,
59 power abuses and 22 cases of misusing guns, Dibyo said. "The
records indicate that discipline among the officers is still
poor."

"All unit heads and chiefs have to pay great attention in
order to improve the discipline of their respective personnel,"
he told the participants of the ceremony.

"I really don't want to give the same punishment to any of my
personnel in the future. I order all unit heads and chiefs to
take stiff measures against their personnel, who are found guilty
of violating the law," Dibyo said.

A capital city like Jakarta which is home of more than nine
million people needs a professional, loyal and disciplined police
force, he said.

The Jakarta Metropolitan Police has at least 15,000 personnel.

Dibyo acknowledged that police officers' pay is still too low.

A sergeant, for instance, receives around Rp 200,000 (US$90)
in monthly take-home pay.

Such conditions cause a large number of policemen to resort to
corruption to meet their daily needs.

The shooting last week of a suspected illicit gambling
operator by a lieutenant from East Jakarta police precinct gave a
fresh example on how undisciplined low-paid police officers try
to earn more money.

According to preliminary investigation, 2nd Lieutenant Burhan
Siburian, 35, of the Public Guidance unit, has admitted to
killing Mangulo Tambunan, 50, in his Ciracas home which was being
used as a gambling den.

According to eyewitnesses, Tambunan was killed after he
refused to give hush money to the lieutenant.

The gun allegedly used by Siburian to shoot the resident
belonged to his junior, Chief Sergeant Achmad Ngadiono. (bsr)