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)