Police still lack professionalism: Chief

Police still lack professionalism: Chief

JAKARTA (JP): National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman
Astrosemitro said yesterday that the police still need to improve
their professionalism before they can properly serve the public.

Speaking at a press conference, the four-star general said
that, in view of financial problems, he could not yet say when
the nation would have an effective, efficient and professional
police force.

"But we'll continue our efforts to urge the government to
provide us with more up-to-date technology."

The news conference was held in relation to the commemoration
of Police Day on Saturday.

Banurusman said that lack of money and facilities had hampered
the police's work. "This is quite ironical because criminals are
becoming more and more professional," he said.

Indonesia's police number only 18,000, as against a population
of 193 million.

During the 1994/1995 fiscal year, for instance, the police
claimed that their operations budget was only Rp 13.9 billion, or
1.8 percent of the overall police budget.

Even with the extra income from the processing of vehicle
documents, the police could only carry out 35 percent of their
annual operational tasks, Banurusman said.

Low

He added that police wages remained very low and could not
easily be easily increased because they remain within the payment
scheme of the Armed Forces.

Sources at police headquarters said the monthly take-home pay
for the rank of corporal was about Rp 150,000 (US$67), sergeant
about Rp 300,000, lieutenant up to captain Rp 500,000 at most,
major to colonel about Rp 800,000 and general more than Rp 1
million.

"I receive a total of Rp 500,000 every month which is
absolutely inadequate for a family of four," a senior captain,
who requested anonymity, told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

It is generally acknowledged that some police break rules in
order to make ends meet and some have been jailed or dismissed
from the service as a result.

"This year at least four police officers have been fired,"
said Banurusman.

He added that the government planned to increase the police
meal allowance which, he said, was only three times the allowance
for police dogs.

Banurusman said the daily police meal allowance was Rp 1,500
per person, compared with Rp 500 spent on each police dog. (bsr)