Term Limit for National Police Chief Deemed to Have Limited Impact on Police Reform

JAKARTA - A police expert from the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies (ISSES), Bambang Rukminto, has highlighted the recommendation to limit the term of the National Police Chief (Kapolri) as proposed by the Commission for Accelerating Police Reform (KPRP).

According to him, limiting the Kapolri’s term is a solution with limited impact on Polri reform.

“Without reform to the career system, promotions, and internal accountability mechanisms, limiting the term could become an administrative solution with limited impact,” Bambang said when contacted on Wednesday (6/5/2026).

Those problems cannot be resolved merely by limiting the Kapolri’s term.

In his view, the recommendations from the Commission for Accelerating Police Reform do not yet address several issues.

“If viewed critically, the recommendations from the Commission for Accelerating Police Reform essentially move along a moderate reform path, with a direction that more reflects the reorganisation of governance rather than changes to power structures,” Bambang said.

KPRP member Mahfud MD revealed that the position could be extended to three years if there is a specific need.

“We are only proposing guidelines that the Kapolri should ideally be appointed for two years, but if still needed, it can be extended to three years,” he said in an interview on Monday (9/2/2026).

Mahfud explained that this suggestion is aimed at improving career paths for high- and mid-ranking officers in Polri.