Indonesian National Police Prepare Recruitment Pathway for Persons with Disabilities

The Indonesian National Police (Polri) Headquarters is preparing a recruitment pathway for persons with disabilities following the ratification of the revised Police Law during the 21st plenary meeting of the fifth session for 2025-2026 on Tuesday (9/5). Karodalpers SSDM Polri Brigadier General Erthel Stephan stated this reflects a commitment to realising an increasingly inclusive institution by strengthening the recruitment of disabled individuals as police members. He explained that Polri has been making adjustments to its recruitment process for persons with disabilities since 2016, encompassing regulatory aspects as well as adjustments to organisational needs and the competencies of recruited human resources. ‘This includes legal rules and adjustments between job roles and the competencies of recruits from disability groups, enabling them to become part of Polri,’ he said in a written statement on Wednesday (10/6). He elaborated that its incorporation into the Police Law further demands readiness from persons with disabilities to adapt to Polri’s work environment, as well as readiness among all existing personnel to work alongside disabled colleagues. Going forward, he said, Polri will continue to gradually expand the job roles available for persons with disabilities with support from various parties. Erthel mentioned that the force is currently focusing recruitment on groups with physical and sensory disabilities, specifically motor and sensory impairments. Recruitment for groups with mental and intellectual disabilities remains under further study and classification to determine appropriate recruitment and placement patterns. ‘Currently, they are mostly placed in functional positions, but in the future, there are open opportunities to hold structural positions in line with improvements in competence and managerial capacity,’ he clarified. Meanwhile, Commissioner of the National Commission for Disabilities (Komnas Disabilitas) Eka Prastama Widiyanta assessed that the policy aligns with the spirit of Law Number 8 of 2016 on Persons with Disabilities, which promotes increased access to employment. Eka expressed hope that the disability recruitment policy within Polri could serve as a model for various central and regional government institutions in building an inclusive and disability-friendly work environment. ‘This recruitment can serve as an example of how an institution builds a system that is friendly towards persons with disabilities while also helping to expand employment access for them,’ he explained. On a separate note, Secretary General of the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) Dwi Ayu Kartika Sari viewed this as an important part of efforts to encourage the involvement of persons with disabilities in security sector reform and to realise a more inclusive organisation. ‘Awareness to ensure our friends with disabilities can contribute to security sector reform, including within the police force, is an excellent step and can serve as an example for other state institutions,’ she said. Previously, under the new regulations, it is stipulated that persons with disabilities can become police personnel if they meet the requirements. This rule is enshrined in Article 21, paragraph (2) of the revision of the Law on the Third Amendment to Law Number 2 of 2002 concerning the Indonesian National Police (RUU Polri). ‘Indonesian citizens with disabilities may be appointed as members of the Indonesian National Police provided they possess the competencies required by the Indonesian National Police,’ states Article 21, paragraph 2.