Jakarta Police vow to curb unwarranted use of firearms

In the wake of recent incidents of police officers using firearms to threaten civilians, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto says that the police already have a tight supervision system in place to keep the rate of such incidents to a minimum.

“We have strict regulations on the use of force and stern punishment mechanisms for those violating regulations,” Rikwanto told The Jakarta Post.

He conceded that such attitudes — brandishing guns — was arrogant, out of order and outdated in this day and age.

“I believe that these mind-sets must be completely eradicated. Police officers must be able to face problems on the streets with a cool head,” he said.

City Police internal affairs division data shows that 12 such incidents occurred throughout 2011. There have been two such incidents thus far in January 2012 alone.

Of the 14 incidents, 13 involved non-commissioned officers (bintara). One involved a low-ranking commissioned officer holding the rank of Adj. Comr.

An unidentified police officer reportedly shot into the air after a Transjakarta official denied him passage on the exclusive busway lane on Jl. Pramuka Raya in Central Jakarta on Thursday last week.

Another incident took place on Jl. Beting in Koja, North Jakarta, on Tuesday at around midnight.

A police officer identified as First Brig. R. held 19-year-old RA at gunpoint and beat him following a misunderstanding. First Brig. R. believed RA had ridden his motorbike at an unnecessarily high speed and almost hit him.

A former Jakarta Police chief, identified as SJ reportedly shot into the air four times in March 2011 following a minor scuffle with security guards at the residential area where he lives in Penjaringan, North Jakarta. S.J. has denied these allegations.

The 2009 National Police Regulation on the Use of Force clearly stipulates that firearms can only be used by police officers against aggressive criminals or suspects visibly trying to inflict serious injury to police officers or other people nearby.

The law also stipulates that firearms must only be used as a last resort, after police officers have exhausted all other alternatives.

The police must first utilize their bare hands, blunt force and weapons such as pepper spray and tear gas before considering drawing their firearms.

According to Rikwanto, unnecessary brandishing of firearms could result in written reprimands, demotions and even detainment.

“Before an officer is entrusted with a firearm, he must undergo a thorough process involving a comprehensive psychology test,” he said.

He added that all officers with licenses to hold firearms licenses must undergo a test every year to renew their licenses.

“We also often hold impromptu firearms checks during morning assemblies to make sure if firearms licenses are still valid,” he said.

Indonesian Police Watch (IPW) chairman Neta Pane recently said that as most officers involved in these incidents are non-commissioned officers, the problem most likely lies in their education.

“Non-commissioned officers only receive three months police training at the State Police School. They are not ready to become officers and they don’t know how to act professionally out there on the streets,” he said.

According to Neta, police education reform is essential to change this mind-set. “Change the recruitment system. Educate them for at least two years. Enforce stringent control over them once they are put on the streets,” he said. (mim)