Police to conduct major reshuffle
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The National Police are moving to reshuffle its organizational structure, just as eight high-ranking police officers who hold vital posts, including two commissioner generals, are about to retire.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Saleh Saaf said on Friday that the restructuring of the police organization itself was currently underway, and therefore the National Police needed to wait for results, before the vacant key posts could be filled.
"The National Police are currently discussing a major restructuring of the police organization nationwide, including the National Police, police precincts and subprecincts," Saleh told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
"Posts that are unnecessary or non-functional, where the officers are still receiving pay, will be scrapped. We are waiting for the results of the new organizational structure, before we can issue the names of the officials who are suited to fill the vacant posts."
Saleh said the eight high-ranking officials who had reached the mandatory retirement age of 55 included National Police deputy for operational control Comr. Gen. Syahruddin Pagar Alam, National Police secretary-general Comr. Gen. Yun Mulyana, Bali Police chief Insp. Gen. I Wayan Ardjana and North Sulawesi Provincial Police chief Brig. Gen. Erald Dotulong.
The three commissioner generals have received a presidential letter notifying them of their imminent retirement.
In Bandung, West Java, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar told reporters that the restructuring of the police organization was necessary.
"Sometimes, there are more three-star (commissioner) generals than there are posts. The restructuring of the organization, among other things, will ensure that the three-star generals will be put to much better use," Da'i said as quoted by Antara on Friday.
Even though a new law on police organizations issued last year extended retirement ages of police officers from 55 to 58, Da'i said the law also had a clause which stated that the extension of the retirement age would be valid only with the issuance of a government regulation.
"To date, that governmental regulation has not been issued. We are still waiting for it ... unless it is issued soon, the eight high-ranking officials will be leaving their posts very soon," Da'i said on the sidelines of the closing ceremony of a course for high-ranking officers.
Apart from the reshuffle, the National Police are stepping up preparations for the setting up of new provincial police establishment in Banten, Bangka Belitung, North Maluku and Gorontalo.
"Due to our limited budget, our plan will be realized gradually. We will give priority to provinces that urgently need a police institution," Da'i said.