Police stuck between disparate realities

Police stuck between disparate realities

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

City Police officers, patrolling in minivans made in 2002 worth
Rp 160 million (US$18,823.50) each, are apparently not happy with
the expensive car nor the advanced technology installed in it.

"We are driving an expensive car while in reality, we are
impoverished and broke," grumbled officer Kadar (not his real
name) earlier this week to The Jakarta Post.

The 40-year-old officer, whose monthly salary is only Rp
700,000, has to spend extra money for the operational cost for
the car.

"We only get a fuel allowance of 20 liters per day, so we have
to shell out Rp 20,000 from our own pockets to buy gasoline," he
said.

The minivan runs eight kilometers on a liter of fuel.

"It's true that the cost of the fuel can be reimbursed, but
this takes time."

Kadar is only one of many police officers patrolling the city
in 364 new police cars. The city police plan to expand the fleet
to 500 in order to reduce the number of street crimes.

Officer Sukaryanto (not his real name) has a similar tale to
tell.

"We've only received Rp 10,000 for our daily meal allowance
these past several months. But the allowance only covers 20 days
each month, while we work almost 30 days total. We have to spend
our own money to cover working days for the rest of the month,"
he said.

"No wonder policemen are tempted to impose illegal levies --
we're poorly paid."

Sukaryanto said that he often bought cigarettes on credit from
street vendors, particularly several days prior to payday.

The minivan, which has a 1,800 cc engine to reach a maximum
speed of 220 kilometers per hour, is also equipped with a GPS
(Global Positioning System) device.

The GPS devices were created by experts from the Bandung
Institute of Technology (ITB) and are worth Rp 4 million, and
were installed to curb the number of street crimes.

A senior police detective said that the target area for petty
crimes have shifted from residential areas to the streets because
of heightened security in the neighborhoods.

Many criminals now prefer targeting the street, as it also
provides many escape routes.

Using the GPS, the patrol officers are able to track down the
criminals, even after they have left the crime scene.

However, the strategy does not make either Kadar or Sukaryanto
comfortable with the new technology.

"They (policymakers) just want to monitor our positions
closely -- anytime, anywhere -- and ensure that we are doing our
jobs," Kadar said.

"I think all that money should have been used to raise our
basic salaries instead."

Sukaryanto said, by purchasing and installing the devices in
patrol cars, those in charge were "only squandering money".

City Police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara repeatedly
stressed that the increased presence of patrol cars throughout
the city was meant to lower the crime rate.

"We want the public to feel safe and secure that police are
everywhere, especially in crime-infested areas, patrolling with
spotlights beaming from our patrol cars. For the criminals, at
least, they will think twice about committing a crime where there
are police patrols," he said.