'Police officers should set good example first'

'Police officers should set good example first'

The city police have warned the public of the presence of bogus
police officers who pose as real police officers, cheating and
extorting money from their victims, mostly motorists. The Jakarta
Post talked to some residents over the issue.

Adul, 36, is a multi-level marketing executive who resides in
Cipulir, Tangerang. He lives with his wife and two children:

I think the bogus police officers should not be tolerated
because they will tarnish the image of the city police in
general.

They are able to operate perhaps due to people's laziness or
reluctance to demand to see some identification of the officers.
Generally speaking, we do not have the guts to ask such questions
because of the stern image of police officers who are on duty.

However, it doesn't mean that we should just take their orders
for granted in cases where we are sure that we have not violated
traffic regulations.

If I am stopped, I will dare to ask the officers to produce
some identification. Even when I'm aware that I have violated a
traffic regulation, I would still ask them.

If they are bogus officers, I would seek the help of friends
to beat up those tricksters.

To tell the truth, I sometimes play games with police officers
by going through a red light to challenge them to chase after me.
I'm not afraid because I will pay them in the usual 'amicable
way', after all. At least, I have made them busy pursuing me.

The presence of such bogus officers cannot be separated from
the presence of real ill-behaved police officers on the street,
including those who illegally extort money from traffic
violators.

Therefore, they (real police) should learn to set a good
example for the public.

Yanto, 21, is a construction worker who rents a house together
with his colleagues in Cengkareng, West Jakarta.:

I have watched many cases of bogus police officers on
television. I believe there are many people posing as police
officers around the city.

My friend told me that he was riding his motorcycle along with
a friend of his when they were stopped by people in police
uniforms on a quiet street one night. He was asked to surrender
his motorcycle for not wearing a helmet at the time.

He gave the motorcycle only to realize later that he had been
robbed by those guys posing as police officers.

I agree with those who say that those impostors should just be
beaten up if they are caught red-handed by the public.

Even if they are true police or military officers, but if they
threaten public security, they should be punished harshly. We
(Cengkareng residents) have mobbed a bogus police officer who
tried to extort money from someone near my house.

Well, I can understand, in a way, that now underprivileged
people are finding smarter ways to earn money in these times of
economic hardship. Still, they are no different from bandits.

It is possible to purchase military and police uniforms in
several places in the city. Their physique sometimes makes it
hard to distinguish between real officers and bogus ones. But, we
have to dare to ask them for identification to confirm their
identity.

The police should join hands with the public in cracking down
on those bogus officers. Otherwise the image of the police will
be damaged.

Pawang Widjaya, 31, is a freelance translator who resides in
Utan Kayu, East Jakarta with his wife and daughter:

I guess the bogus police officers are a real embarrassment for
the city police, especially considering that the police have been
trying hard to improve their public image.

I pity them because they have not yet successfully cracked
down on thugs operating in Greater Jakarta. They have not made
city residents feel secure about going out in the city, even more
so now with the presence of those tricksters.

Honestly, I think twice about taking a ride on a public buses
or even by motorcycle taxi. It's better for me to travel by taxi,
in spite of the expense.

I regret that many people are able to buy police uniforms,
making it easy for them to masquerade as real officers. I also
regret the fact that many police officers frequently extort money
from drivers for violating traffic regulations. Such actions have
set a bad example for the public to emulate.

On the other hand, many city residents deliberately violate
traffic regulations. Their undisciplined attitude is one of the
factors that provokes police officers to teach a lesson to the
violators.

I'm of the opinion that we have to work hand in hand to combat
them, or otherwise their numbers will increase.