Post-Sambo Saga, Police Must Commit Reform

The former National Police internal affairs chief Insp. Gen. Ferdy Sambo has been named a suspect and has been detained on charges of being the perpetrator of the murder of Brigadier Joshua.

Sambo has also been dishonorably discharged as a member of the Bhayangkara Corps. National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo’s firm stance over the case deserves to be acknowledged.

Under his instructions, the team of investigators moved swiftly to uncover what appeared to be a hierarchy-based mobilized concoction, in which a drove of high-rank police officers and subordinates were implicated and some having been named suspects.

The act of Sambo and his hierarchical rank is indeed disgraceful and can degrade public confidence in the police institution. For the National Police chief this must be a slap in the face because Sambo and a number of individuals involved in his concocted story about the case were recruited not only based on their performance but also for their close relations with superiors (including previous police chiefs).

Smearing the image

It is an act of terrible character and behavior with tremendous destructive effects. It is truly a blemish and a grave event in the history of the existence of the police institution in Indonesia.

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Speculations of a tendency to malign the National Police further have also gone wild, including suspicion from a number of social circles that see "the behavior of Sambo and his ranks" no longer categorized as a crime of unscrupulous persons isolated from "bad culture", which to some extent has been “systematically preserved” by high-rank police leaders.

It is possible that several individuals within the police force were trapped or had become familiarized with the habit of fabricating lies in handling cases, with several members of the community being victimized directly or indirectly.

First, from the side of Brigadier Joshua. While his murder, if reconstructed, would be horrific to watch, the bereft family is left in deep sorrow and their loss will be felt for a long time to come.

Those victimized directly or indirectly by the Sambo saga have now come to light. First, from the side of Brigadier Joshua. While his murder, if reconstructed, would be horrific to watch, the bereft family is left in deep sorrow and their loss will be felt for a long time to come.

Brig. J’s parents dreamed of their son becoming a police officer by enrolling him in the police institution. They cherished the dream of him proudly becoming part of the elite police. The family's dream has now vanished in an instant.

Second, it is about the police force members, whether they are officers, subordinates or colleagues, who were involved. Their wives and children bear the brunt of the crime and had no idea what really happened.

If the investigation process reveals dozens of Bhayangkara Corps members taking part in the crime, it is likely that they will also be subject to criminal and/or ethical sanctions, which in turn could lead to their dismissal from the police. At the very least, there would be the discovery of a bad record in the course of their career. The implication is that they will socially be labeled as “bad” or “evil cops”, which will have a psychological impact on their families.

Third, the image of the police as an institution will be tarnished and it will take time in order to regain the public’s trust. The police institution, along with their leadership and apparatus, will be considered as incompetent law enforcers with their call for public order seen by the community only as lip service. The community, who have become "law literate", are aware that the behavior of police members is far from the ideal type of a law enforcer. In a nutshell, their suspicions about bad practices in carrying out police duties will continue to simmer in the background in the absence of authority in the police institution.

Such deplorable conditions should become a concern and must be dealt with accordingly. The Sambo saga is a problem for the National Police and systematic efforts should be made for improvement. If not, another saga of fabricated lies could occur claiming more victims and the public will only feel frustration due to their powerlessness.

Three strategic agenda

In this regard, there are at least three strategies and practical agendas that must be carried out if we want the National Police to be a law-enforcing institution.

First, avoid placement of members in structural positions based on collusion, clout closeness or vested political interests. To be honest, this has been going on for a long time.

The community must also be involved in providing information about the behavior of police members in carrying out their daily duties.

The placement for positions or promotion must be based on due diligence and on results of a comprehensive psychological test regarding integrity, mental health and others. The assessment must include a record of behavior that can be traced from the workplace down to their household environment. The community must also be involved in providing information about the behavior of police members in carrying out their daily duties.

Such an approach in the assessment should become the basic standard in any government institution in the hopes that those in duty are mentally healthy and have integrity. Psychological tests are necessary to be imposed on police members who are currently still holding structural positions within or outside the institution. It can serve as the basis for repositioning.

Second, treat the police as crucial public servants, who must always comply with the laws and regulations in carrying out their duties. In this context, the "superior-subordinate" relationship is not solely based on a rigid command structure, in which the superior's orders are absolute truths that must be obeyed, but rather based on rules that serve as operational guidance as compliance towards superiors.

Such operational principles should be the main orientation of systematic cultural reform within the National Police. It means that the Satya Haprabu doctrine should not be interpreted simply as being "subservient to the leaders", in which the leaders' instructions are blindly considered obligatory, while they are known or recognized as "not being in accordance with the rules".

External supervisory agency

Third, the leaders of the National Police must be open to supervision by external overseeing institutions. The existing supervisory institutions have so far been powerless in the face of resistance from the police regarding input from official institutions and the community. The House of Representatives (DPR) as an overseeing institution must not compromise with the bad behavior of police members. Likewise, the Ombudsman, National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM) and National Police Watchdog (Kompolnas) should be more empowered.

It all must begin with the commitment and goodwill of two figures from two interrelated institutions, namely the President and the National Police chief. We all hope they will act promptly.

KOMPAS/SHARON PATRICIA

Laode Ida

Laode Ida, Deputy Speaker of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) (2004-2014) and Ombudsman Commissioner (2016-2011)

(This article was translated by Musthofid)