Police Open Recruitment for Persons with Disabilities Following New Law
The revision of the Indonesian National Police Law accommodates persons with disabilities to become members of the police force. Polri has opened recruitment to accommodate persons with disabilities.
This was conveyed by the Head of Personnel Bureau of SSDM Polri, Brigadier General Erthel Stephan, during a public discussion on the Recruitment of Persons with Disabilities as Police Members at the Ambhara Hotel meeting room in South Jakarta on Tuesday (9/6/2026). Present as speakers at the discussion were the Secretary General of the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) Dwi Ayu Kartika and Commissioner of the National Commission on Disabilities (Komnas Disabilitas) Eka Prastama Widiyanta.
“Polri has opened recruitment for persons with disabilities based on Law No. 2 of 2002, Law No. 8 of 2016, and Chief of Police Regulation No. 10 of 2019, which emphasise affirmative principles and merit-based selection,” said Brigadier General Erthel.
Brigadier General Erthel stated that the implementation of recruitment for persons with disabilities requires gradual adjustments in organisational aspects, such as structure and work culture, as well as human resource readiness.
“Polri accommodates persons with disabilities by considering competence and independence. This step is considered progressive in promoting inclusivity in the security sector, considering that disability recruitment in other countries is also still limited,” he said.
Erthel added that Polri plays a strategic role in disability inclusion development by strengthening human resources through accessible recruitment processes, adaptive education, and a disability-friendly work environment.
Komnas Disabilitas and Komnas Perempuan appreciated Polri for accommodating persons with disabilities to be recruited as police members. In this regard, a roadmap for developing disability talent within Polri is needed, covering selection, promotion, and retention.
During the discussion, a participant representing teachers said that Polri needs to accommodate persons with intellectual disabilities in police recruitment. He mentioned that requests for assistance from the disability community still often face difficulties in the process of obtaining driving licences and other matters.
The House of Representatives (DPR) officially ratified the revision of the Law on the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia. In the latest Police Law, persons with disabilities can be appointed as police members if they meet the requirements.
This is stipulated in Article 21 paragraph 2 of the revision of the Law on the Third Amendment to Law Number 2 of 2002 concerning the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia, as seen by detikcom on Tuesday (9/6/2026).
“Indonesian citizens with disabilities may be appointed as Members of the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia as long as they possess the competencies required by the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia,” reads Article 21 paragraph 2.
The complete content of Article 21 of the latest Police Law is as follows:
Article 21
- To be appointed as a Member of the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia, a candidate must meet at least the following requirements:
an Indonesian citizen;
faithful and devoted to God Almighty;
loyal to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia based on Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia;
educated at least to senior high school level or equivalent;
at least 18 (eighteen) years of age;
physically and mentally healthy;
never sentenced to imprisonment;
honest, fair, and of good conduct; and
graduated from the education and training for the formation of Members of the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia conducted by the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia.
Indonesian citizens with disabilities may be appointed as Members of the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia as long as they possess the competencies required by the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia.
Further provisions regarding the requirements for appointment and development of members of the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia as referred to in paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) shall be regulated by a Regulation of the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia.