Police to change its recruitment system

JAKARTA (JP): In an effort to establish a professional force, the Police Academy will introduce a new recruitment system this year, National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo said on Tuesday.

The new system will replace one which enables recruits to join the Police Academy without first having field experience.

"The new recruitment system is expected to produce professional police personnel, because they will have to experience working in the field," Rusdihardjo told journalists after addressing the National Police leadership meeting at the Police Staff College.

Currently, high school graduates can enroll at the Police Academy in Semarang, Central Java, and after a four-year training period graduate as Second Inspectors.

While screening for the Police Academy is rigorous, many people have complained the academy gives unfair consideration to the sons of high-ranking police officers.

"With the new system, these officers will first experience being a traffic policeman or a member of the police's Mobile Brigade," Rusdihardjo said, adding that most current middle to high-ranking police officers had no experience in such positions.

He said 35 percent of new recruits at the Police Academy this year were noncommissioned officers with the rank of sergeant. Next year, that percentage will be 60 and the following year 80, he said.

"Four years from now, anybody who wishes to enter the Police Academy will have to be a sergeant," Rusdihardjo said, adding that this type of system was used around the world.

He also said the police was preparing a new curriculum for the Noncommissioned Officers School to enable students to finish their training in six months, down from the current one year.

"Within a year, the police will produce 22,000 new noncommissioned officers," Rusdihardjo said.

He said the school's training system also would be revamped, moving away from the militaristic style of training to a more appropriate system.

"We're no longer in the military. We are now civilians in uniforms," Rusdihardjo said.

He also said that as a follow-up to the changes in its ranking terminology on July 1, the police force would reduce the number of its ranks from the current 22 to 12 before Jan. 1 next year.

"With the reduction in ranks, police personnel will have a greater chance to achieve the highest rank," he said.

The National Police is scheduled to be placed officially under the direct coordination of the president on Jan. 1 next year. (08)