National Police’s Challenge in Maintaining Public Image

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO

Police officers wear face masks on Wednesday (25/3/2020) as they drive through Pasar Baru in Central Jakarta.

More than half of respondents in an opinion poll conducted by Kompas recently expressed appreciation over the performance of the National Police, which celebrated its 74th anniversary on July 1, 2020. Nevertheless, the survey also indicated the professionalism of the police needed to be further improved.

The National Police celebrated its 74th anniversary on July 1, 2020. The long journey of the police can never be separated from public expectations and demands for a professional, modern and trustworthy National Police institution.

The recent Kompas poll captured how police presence was very a part of people’s daily lives. This is evident from the opinion of the majority of respondents who said that the police had maintained their public image.

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More than half of the respondents appreciated the National Police\'s performance. Nevertheless, the poll also captured that the police needed to further improvement in their professionalism in the midst of violations by some of officers.

The public opinion on the police cannot be separated from the daily experience of the community. The negative perceptions of the police continue to be related to bribery and neutrality.

However, these negative perceptions are just part of the people’s opinion about the police. In fact, most respondents believed the police performed professionally overall and had been able to improve their reputation.

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Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo

Motorcyclists stop by the roadside in front of a billboard marking the 74th anniversary of Bhayangkara (National Police) Day outside the Jakarta Metropolitan Police headquarters on Tuesday (30/6/2020). National Police Day, which falls on 1 July, commemorates the founding of the Indonesian National Police under Presidential Regulation No. 11/1946.

Interestingly, millennial respondents were divided in their opinions. For example, half of young millennial (aged below 30 years) respondents (48 percent) agreed with the general assessment that the police are easily bribed, while 42 percent disagreed. The same divide was evident over the matter of police neutrality.

It must be admitted, many of the perpetrators and victims of crimes are young people.

For example, in terms of violent crime and radicalism, young people are often the target, especially with the widespread use of social media. Noor Huda Ismail, the founder of the Yayasan Prasasti Perdamaian

peace foundation, said young people had become easy targets of radicalization campaigns conducted through social media. (Kompas, 3/6/2020).

Satisfaction

While the opinion poll showed the public appreciated the performance of the police, the rate was down compared to similar polls in previous years.

Public satisfaction is certainly inseparable from the challenge law enforcement faces at different times. The Covid-19 pandemic, for example, also poses a challenge for the police.

From the end of March to May 10, 39,273 inmates were granted early release to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in prisons and detention centers. Of the prisoners released, 93 reoffended (Kompas, 05/12/2020).

Also read : Police Get Covid-19 Burial Training

KOMPAS/JOHANES GALUH BIMANTARA

An armed police officer wearing a face mask stands guard over nine suspects, also wearing face masks in accordance with the COVID-19 protocols, who were presented along with evidence in a drug network case on Monday (29/6/2020) at the Jakarta Metropolitan Police headquarters.

This certainly presents a challenge for the police to maintain security while at the same time having to participate in preventing the spread of Covid-19, especially in relation to their role in enforcing large-scale social restrictions (PSBB). This role is stipulated in the Police Chief’s Decree No. Mak/2/III/2020 concerning the implementation of government policies in preventing the Covid-19 transmission. This ruling was issued to support the implementation of Government Regulation No. 21/2020 concerning PSBB measures and Health Ministerial Regulation No. 9/2020.

The Indonesian Police chief\'s announcement said that the National Police fully supported government policies regarding the handling of Covid-19 and breaking the chain of Covid-19 transmission through taking action against people who conducted mass gatherings.

The role of the National Police in ensuring people keep their distance and wear masks and in preventing people from participating in the annual Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) are some of the important roles taken by the police in coping with the Covid-19 outbreak.

The role of the police has been relatively effective in enforcing PSBB rules in the field.

In addition, the police have also focused on handling potential crimes during the implementation of PSBB, such as street crimes, resistance to officers, problems with the availability of basic needs, and cybercrime. According to Kompas records, the role of the police has been relatively effective in enforcing PSBB rules in the field. At least, through the Nusa II Safe Operation for the prevention of Covid-19, the National Police had dispersed people’s gatherings 610,118 times, sprayed disinfectant 63,400 times, and carried out education or appeals to the public.

Police personnel were also involved in delivering humanitarian assistance. For example, brigadier Jerry Tumundo, a North Sulawesi regional police officer had gained appreciation from many people, even going viral on social media, for his initiative in helping bury the body of the dead victim of Covid-19 when many people avoided it for fear of being infected.

Along with the relaxation of social restrictions, the police chief’s role in the implementation of PSBB measures has also been revoked. However, the role of the police as one of the front-line parties to support emergency measures during this pandemic cannot be denied.

KOMPAS/KORNELIS KEWA AMA

East Nusa Tenggara Police Chief Insp. Gen. Hamidin gives cash to children on Semau Island, Kupang city, during Ramadan to anticipate the impact of Covid-19 through the Bhayangkara social service program.

Challenge

Taking on a role in the midst of a pandemic will certainly be a challenge for the police as the pandemic also creates complex security problems. The economic burdens caused by the pandemic certainly creates the potential for crime. Based on National Police data, the crime rate of the 23rd to 24th week of the pandemic increased significantly by 38.45 percent. Crime is dominated by street crimes such as robbery. Cybercrime is also on the rise as many people turn to online market places.

Many crimes also occurred as perpetrators took advantage of the social restrictions as things were relatively quiet. Other patterns of crime during the pandemic period included hoarding medical devices, selling counterfeit medicines, violating public orders due to disputes over medical problems and hoaxes related to Covid-19.

These challenges are of course also followed by the public\'s expectation that the police become the foundation for maintaining security. How the National Police responds to these challenges will influence public perception on police performance.

Maintaining a good public perception in the midst of this pandemic is the main task of the police at the age of 74 years. Happy Police Day! (KOMPAS RD)