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.