'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.