Indonesia Welcomes New Police Science Expert from Civilian Background

Advocate and Gerakan Pemuda Ansor cadre Rangga Afianto has obtained a Doctorate in Police Science from the Police Science College (STIK) Lemdiklat Polri with cum laude honours. In his dissertation, Rangga examined the strengthening of the independence and institutional existence of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) as part of efforts to reinforce external oversight of the National Police (Polri). The dissertation, titled Police Oversight & Accountability: A Study on the Independence and Institutional Existence of Kompolnas, highlighted the importance of strengthening Kompolnas’s role in promoting transparency, accountability, and checks and balances mechanisms within the police function. Rangga stated that reinforcing external oversight is a crucial element in supporting sustainable police reform in Indonesia. ‘Strengthening Kompolnas institutionally is necessary to ensure that the external oversight function of Polri operates effectively, thereby bolstering accountability, transparency, and public trust in the police institution,’ said Rangga Afianto in a statement on Tuesday (9/6). According to him, the involvement of civilians in the development of Police Science can enrich perspectives in policy formulation and the strengthening of security governance in a democratic country. ‘Police Science is an open discipline for all elements of the nation. The presence of academics and practitioners from civilian backgrounds is expected to contribute to research-based policy development and strengthen constructive relations between the police and the community,’ he stated. The doctoral promotion hearing that Rangga underwent featured several national figures as examiners, including Dedi Prasetyo, Otto Hasibuan, and Bambang Soesatyo. This achievement adds to the number of academics from civilian backgrounds pursuing education up to the doctoral level in the field of Police Science. The presence of police experts with civilian backgrounds is considered capable of supporting the development of more accountable security and law enforcement policies, while simultaneously strengthening the space for dialogue between the police institution and the community. Rangga’s graduation also reinforces the role of STIK Lemdiklat Polri as a higher education institution that develops Police Science studies and produces thinkers and researchers who contribute to strengthening the national security and law enforcement system.