Riau Police Chief, Accompanied by Rocky Gerung, Inspects Forest and Land Fires in Dumai: Here's the Condition

Efforts to handle forest and land fires (karhutla) in Dumai, Riau Province, have received special attention. Riau Police Chief Irjen Pol Herry Heryawan carried out a direct inspection to the hotspots at the location. Accompanied by academic and public policy observer Rocky Gerung, Irjen Herry Heryawan conducted the check via air on Friday (27/3/2026). The Police Chief’s presence at the site aimed to directly observe the firefighting efforts for karhutla. After monitoring the karhutla, the Police Chief, along with Rocky Gerung, headed to Rupat Island, North Rupat, Bengkalis Regency. Accompanied by Bengkalis Police Chief AKBP Fahrian Saleh Siregar, the Forkopimda, and Rocky Gerung, the Police Chief planted geronggang trees. The weather conditions at the inspection site were observed to be partly cloudy. Although no large spreading fires were found, the high air temperature increases the risk of fires in easily drying peatlands. Riau Police Chief explained that the use of the Dashboard Lancang Kuning application is vital for precise ground checks. Coordinate data appearing in the application is immediately followed up by personnel in the field to ensure whether the point is a real fire or just a heat reflection. During the inspection, Rocky Gerung also provided his views on handling karhutla in Riau. He emphasised the importance of balancing law enforcement with ecological understanding. “The Police Chief came with a new idea, the Green Policing idea which is usually criticised by the public, observers, and politicians. Why should the police regulate things that are scientific in nature, which are not part of the police’s main task of preventing criminality?” said Rocky Gerung. Rocky Gerung opined that the preventive efforts carried out by the Riau Police Chief correlate with criminality. “Crime is the result of social damage. Every social damage contains potential for crime. Environmental damage is the most dangerous social damage on earth,” added Rocky Gerung. Previously, the Police Chief along with several main officials (PJU) of the Riau Police also directly joined in extinguishing fires in the Dumai area on Thursday (26/3). Riau Police Chief emphasised that preventive steps must be the top priority, through integrated patrols, education for the community, and firm law enforcement against land burning perpetrators. “Handling karhutla cannot be done partially. Collaboration is needed between TNI-Polri, local government, and active community participation so that fire potential can be minimised from the start,” stressed the Riau Police Chief in his field instructions.