Editorial: Policing police

Thu, 09/18/2008 10:37 AM  |  Opinion

Outgoing National Police chief Gen. Sutanto has made outstanding achievements, especially in combating terrorism, minimizing illegal logging and eradicating rampant gambling practices (including togel illegal numbers racket, where many police officers act as protectors -- at least according to public perception).

But when the 1973 graduate of the National Police Academy steps down, will his successor perform as well as he has -- especially in rejecting lucrative financial incentives from criminals and corruptors?

A leader has followers who support them either voluntarily or because of organizational reasons. But to be a good leader, one needs much more than just loyal followers -- it requires the ability to affect those supporters so as to accomplish a mission or influence them to move towards securing an achievement or objective.

Such a requirement is a valid prerequisite to consider in screening and determining the next leader of the National Police force, a top post that will soon become vacant as the incumbent Gen. Sutanto is due to retire at the end of this month.

A smooth and timely transfer of leadership is imminent, especially since the President (as direct superior of the police chief) indicated he would not extend Sutanto's term in office and instead submitted the name of a replacement candidate to the House of Representatives.

The President's pick, Comr. Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri, is however not yet definitive and indeed subject to approval from the House. But whoever the next police chief is, including the three-star General Bambang Hendarso, they must at least equal or if possible surpass the achievements of Sutanto.

Sutanto, the top of his class at the academy, secured a series of outstanding achievements during his three-year leadership. Only three months in command, the police under his leadership managed to kill the country's most wanted terror fugitive, Malaysian national Dr. Azahari bin Husin, during a raid in Malang, East Java, in November 2005.

Still in November 2005, a police team managed to uncover and ambush the country's largest ever illegal drug operation, producing shabu (crystal methamphetamine) and ecstasy pills in Tangerang, Banten.

One year later, police raided another drug factory also in Tangerang, whose capacity was only second to the one raided in November 2005.

The police force's performance under Sutanto's leadership peaked during its 62nd anniversary last July when a team raided a terror suspects' hideout in Palembang, South Sumatra, who were believed to have had links with terror fugitives Malaysian Noordin M. Top and Singaporean Mas Slamet Kastari. The police made 10 arrests.

Also to his credit, it was during Sutanto's term in office that police managed to complete an investigation into the high-profile 2004 murder of rights activist Munir Said Thalib. The investigation of the murder case, which initially hovered around petty suspects, eventually led to the arrest and prosecution of Muchdi Purwopranjono, then deputy chief of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN). The trial against Muchdi, who had held the second highest tier in the agency's leadership structure, is still underway.

And due to this excellent achievement, it is no less controversial to learn that Sutanto is due to be replaced. He will reach his mandatory retirement age of 58 at the end of this month. However, as article 30 of the 2002 Police Law states, the tenure of a police officer with special qualifications who is very much needed for police duties can be extended until he/she reaches 60 years of age -- which would also be applicable to Sutanto.

Still, the decision to replace him and nominate a new police chief is indeed the prerogative of the President who, while observing the social, political and economic condition of the country, also needs to consider other key factors including smooth regeneration of leadership within the police force.

Again, if it is really necessary to have a new police chief, his successor must meet the prerequisite of being a good leader.

To borrow a principle from successful teaching-learning practices, students need to be better than their teachers. A similar expectation is also addressed to the next police chief. And in the case of Bambang Hendarso, who has several times worked in collaboration with Sutanto in other capacities of police duty, to better Sutanto -- his mentor and senior -- is not an impossibility. This is entirely up to Bambang Hendarso himself.

And once Bambang (or whoever else) is appointed, he must strive for excellence, not only to perform the key police duty of "soothing society's illnesses", but mainly to improve the force's tarnished image.

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