Toward a better police force

Toward a better police force

A housewife complained that the officers at a police station
in Surabaya, East Java, asked for Rp 5 million in
"administration fees" when she requested to have the dossier of
her teenage son -- who had been detained for several days over a
traffic accident -- withdrawn.

The officers insisted that she pay the sum despite the fact
that an amicable settlement had been reached between her son and
the victim, whom he had hit in the accident. The woman managed to
raise only Rp 4.5 million by selling the jewelry she was wearing
that day and gave the money to the officers, who refused to give
her a receipt and told her instead that she still owed them Rp
500,000.

This true account took place just days before the National
Police are to observe its 57th anniversary, which falls on July 1
-- which should also be a good day for introspection by our
police force.

This story tells of only one of the thousands of scandalous
acts by the National Police that have become accepted as the
norm, carried out by unscrupulous officers in this country where
protection and service to the public remain expensive novelties.

National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar has promised that the
police will strive to establish improved standards by providing
the public with better services and greater protection.

It will not be easy to turn Gen. Da'i's pledge into reality,
although it may sound very simple. It is a question of mentality
and habit. The police will find it difficult to start a new
culture to replace the old established one, which has been
flourishing for decades.

Another problem with providing the public with appropriate
service and proper protection is the prevailing police mind-set,
which has become no more than rhetoric, due to, among other
things, a shortage of personnel.

With around 200,000 police personnel nationwide, one police
officer serves about 1 million people, assuming that Indonesia's
population numbers about 200 million. According to UN standards,
a single officer should be serving no more than 300 people.

The quality of the personnel is another problem. Successive
recruitment systems, which have reportedly been very poor, have
apparently resulted in inferior officers. It is no secret that
bribery has always effectively served to smooth the way in police
recruitment tests.

Determined to transform their militaristic image, the National
Police have overhauled the curriculum at the non-commissioned
officers (bintara) school, the Police Academy as well as the
Institute of Police Officers.

Human rights and other subjects on social and cultural affairs
have been adopted as obligatory in the academies, in the hope
that the new officers will not only be more professional and
stronger, but also more conscientious and compassionate.

In the future -- probably in two generations' time -- the
nation expects to see tougher police officers who respect the
rule-of-law. It is not impossible for the nation to have much
better qualified police personnel.

The police have kicked off a reform movement within its ranks,
the (initial) results of which we could enjoy and see, probably,
in the handling of demonstrations. Police escorts are available
to protesters taking to the streets, provided that they give
official notification beforehand as to when and where the protest
would be held and how many people were expected to join. In this
way, the police can play a significant role in protecting both
the protesters and the general public from possible chaos.

We acknowledge that our police are still far from being an
ideal force. Heated situations have frequently provoked the anger
of officers. At least, however, they are learning to do their
best and therefore deserve our support.

Soon after their separation from the military (TNI), the
police have received more foreign aid for educational programs to
promote human rights and public order and security.

One thing the National Police should keep in mind, though, is
that the public's demand for more qualified police officers must
be properly responded to with sincerity and accountability. Only
in this way can they regain the public trust, which has almost
vanished after decades of abuse of power.

There is no other option for the police in conducting their
daily duties amid Indonesia's diverse society, but to enhance
their performance and to strengthen discipline among their ranks.

It is either now or never. The police must make an all-out
effort to win the people's hearts. How they succeed in this will
be the yardstick by which their role in the national reform
movement will be measured.