Riau Police Chief Affirms Openness to Criticism: We Provide Space for Dialogue
The Chief of Police for Riau, Inspector General Pol Herry Heryawan, affirmed that the National Police is not against criticism. This two-star general stated that they are open to dialogue with all elements of society.
This was conveyed by Inspector General Herry Heryawan during a breaking-of-the-fast event with a number of students who are members of Cipayung Plus, youth organisations (OKP), and student executive bodies (BEM) from across Riau.
“We are open, and if you want to criticise, please do so. We are very open to dialogue and to receiving criticism and input,” said Inspector General Herry Heryawan in Pekanbaru, Tuesday (24 February 2026).
The Chief of Police said that they are open to receiving criticism as long as it is based on facts. He then referred to a viral narrative that claimed the 110 call centre service did not respond to calls from accident victims.
“Yesterday, we were criticised for 110 not responding, but it turned out that no one had reported to 110, and it turned out that the victim fell on their own and it wasn’t a hit-and-run, there is CCTV footage,” he said.
During this holy month of Ramadan, the Chief of Police of Riau invited the students to continue fostering positive values in building harmony between people and the environment.
“This holy month teaches us all to cultivate the values of patience, sincerity and concern. These values are the foundation for building harmonious relationships between all of us as human beings, as well as with nature and the environment,” he explained.
Students as Agents of Change
On the same occasion, the Chief of Police also invited students to become agents of change who continue to open up space for dialectics and the exchange of ideas.
“If we understand and are ready to have our ideas challenged, we will not be afraid to go anywhere. That’s why the police and the military need interviews, because we need good ideas,” he said.
The two-star general also invited the students to make a real contribution, not only to people, but also to nature and the surrounding environment.
“I want to reopen the discussion on how to make a real contribution to ourselves, the environment, and the country. If a tree already has strong branches and lush leaves, we can contribute not only to our family, but also to the surrounding environment,” said the Chief of Police.
The Chief of Police highlighted the aspect of justice, which has often focused only on relationships between people, but has neglected nature. He questioned the loss of awareness in protecting forests, given the history of forest and land fires (karhutla) which began to increase since 2004, even though previously Riau did not have this problem.
In closing his speech, Inspector General Herry introduced the concept of Green Policing as a tool for the community to work together with the National Police in protecting the environment.
“My presence here with all the ranks of the Riau Police is to provide good narratives so that the community is aware of the importance of ecology. From emancipation to eco-sipation. From eco-sipation to Green Policing. And the aim of Green Policing is to be a tool so that the community can work together with the National Police,” he concluded.
(mea/jbr)