The Story of Aipda Denny, a Rural Police Officer Who Travelled for Hours to Help the Community

Aipda Denny Ariadi does not tire of safeguarding public order and safety in the interior of Central Kalimantan (Kalteng), specifically in Bukit Raya District, Katingan Regency, Central Kalimantan. He is always present and provides solutions to every community issue.

For his dedication, Aipda Denny has been proposed as one of the Hoegeng Awards 2026 candidates by the Bukit Raya Camat, Yanudin. Bhabinkamtibmas Polsek Katingan Hulu is a candidate for Hoegeng Corner 2025. Here is Yanudin’s testimony about Aipda Denny:

“I recommended Mr Denny because he is a diligent police officer; he is willing to serve in the interior area like Bukit Raya, which I consider very far from the district town and with limited land transport and communications. Mr Denny also always attends every community activity across the 11 villages under his supervision in Bukit Raya. He tirelessly agrees to secure community events until they are finished. He also always appears at every settlement/mediation in his assigned villages and prioritises a family-like approach. Mr Denny also participates in every district event we organise.”

Later detikcom contacted Yanudin to ask more about Aipda Denny. He regards the officer, who serves in Desa Tumbang Kajamei, which borders Melawi Regency in West Kalimantan, as a good person.

“Mr Denny is a good man. While posted in Bukit Raya, whether at the district or village level, if I tell him or he knows, he is ready to come. If there is a problem, he often resolves it through customary means; it does not escalate to the regency level. He is ready to attend and mediate between the concerned parties and community leaders, village heads,” Yanudin told detikcom on Thursday (26 February 2026).

According to Yanudin, the difficulty of access and signal in Desa Tumbang Kajamei does not make Aipda Denny reluctant to visit residents in need of his help. His presence is considered very helpful to Yanudin’s duties as Camat Bukit Raya.

“If transport is difficult due to the road, from the district to the villages is very far; usually (Aipda Denny) travels by kelotok to places where residents are or need him; he is picked up by the community,” he said.

Yanudin noted that Denny also runs a programme to nurture high school students in Bukit Raya by conducting drill practise or Paskibra. In addition, Denny trains the community protection group (Linmas) in his villages.

“Whenever we invite him to assist with security, he attends. When we bring him to the villages, the collaboration is good. He is also well known by the community,” Yanudin said.

In Hoegeng Corner 2025, Aipda Denny spoke about conditions in the village where he serves being very far from the district capital. The journey to Desa Tumbang Kajamei from his home in Katingan Hilir District can take around 12 hours by land and river transport.

“The geography and the roads are the main reasons why the journey takes so long, as the roads are still red soil and not yet paved,” Aipda Denny told detikcom on Wednesday (22 October 2025).

The distance from home to his post does not make Denny complain. He has left his home and brought his family to live in Desa Tumbang Kajamei so that his service to the people is not hampered.

Even after living in his assigned village, distance and access to carry out Bhabinkamtibmas duties remain a challenge for Denny. According to him, travelling to the farthest part of his district, which borders Kalbar, can take up to four hours by river. “When you go to the farthest village, it is usually a one- to two-night return trip,” he said.

To patrol the farthest areas of his villages, Denny does not use land routes or Bhabinkamtibmas motorcycles. He instead personally funds boat charters using his own money because the land roads in his village are badly damaged.

“If there are issues to resolve, I request transport. If not, I charter a boat to the farthest village up to the Kalbar border; it costs around Rp 500,000. For a return trip it can be Rp 700,000; they ask for a little more,” he said.

Denny routinely travels to 11 villages to socialise with residents on security, narcotics dangers, and recent incidents.

During almost five years as Bhabinkamtibmas in Desa Tumbang Kajamei, Denny has resolved many community disputes, including land disputes and fights between residents.

“Here we still apply a family-based approach. We resolve everything with a familial approach, so restorative justice, and we do not go to court unless the matter is severe,” he emphasised.

In addition, Denny has been a pioneer and trainer for Paskibra activities in his assigned village. He trains schoolchildren and Linmas to march in formation so that for Indonesian Independence Day there is a team to participate in the flag-raising ceremony.

“What has changed since I’ve been here is that previously Linmas never trained in marching-based drills. The kids also never took part as flag-raising troops. Since I arrived, they can take part in the flag-raising team,” Denny said.

“Previously, in school there was no socialisation about the dangers of narcotics and juvenile delinquency… because from Polsek Katingan Hulu it is very far, so almost never…”