Police Education Under Scrutiny: Akpol Lacks Humanity, Sergeant Graduates Can Only Run
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The education process within the Indonesian National Police (Polri) has come under scrutiny during a meeting of the House of Representatives’ Commission III with the acting Head of the Polri Education and Training Institute, Inspector General Andi Rian Djajadi.
In the meeting, DPR members with backgrounds as former Polri generals and Polri representatives took turns providing feedback on the education processes in the Bhayangkara Corps.
What did they say?
DPR Commission III member Adang Daradjatun, who previously served as deputy chief of Polri, for instance, questioned the sergeant education programme, which lasts only five months.
According to him, nothing can be expected from police officers who undergo only five months of training, even though they graduate as police with the rank of Bripda two (Bripda).
This politician from the Prosperous Justice Party assessed that if educated for only five months, those police officers would certainly only be able to salute, march, and run.
“That is my question, is it still the case, or now five months? Please, fellow council members, sorry to bring it up again, but if a police officer is educated for only five months, he can only salute, march, and run, right?” said Adang.
According to him, this is important because the real backbone of Polri lies with the sergeants.
He wants police to be better educated up to subsequent levels, so they truly understand the work that should be done.
“Because whatever it is, after the general sergeant education, if it is not followed by specific advanced schooling, then cases like those now found by Commission III occur. Field examiners and investigators who just come out of education, perhaps entering as examiners, do not know the investigation process,” said Adang.
Meanwhile, another DPR member, Safaruddin from the PDI Perjuangan Faction, questioned the issue of sponsored cadets at the Police Academy (Akpol).
This retired police inspector general suspects that many problematic individuals enter Akpol through crooked channels.
That opinion arises because violence still frequently occurs at Akpol and the National Police School (SPN).