Concern has mounted following the fatal shooting on Tuesday of Adj. Sr. Comr. Pamudji, head of the public service unit at the Jakarta Police, by another police officer.

The incident was the third death from the barrel of a gun belonging to police personnel in less than six months.

Edi Hasibuan from the National Police Commission, said officers were required to undergo a psychological test when they applied for a firearm-possession license.

'€œAfter that there are no more tests to assess whether they are still fit to possess a firearm. All personnel possessing guns should undergo a psychological test once every six months to ensure they are stable and can use it responsibly,'€ he said at Pamudji'€™s residence in Cijantung on Wednesday.

According to Edi, besides the regular psychological test, the use of firearms by police personnel should be tightly and closely supervised to avoid any gun misuse.

Chairman of Indonesia Police Watch, Neta S. Pane, said the incident, which occurred only 14 hours after the inauguration of Insp. Dwi Priyatno as the new Jakarta Police chief, showed how important it was to take immediate action to avoid similar incidents from happening.

'€œThe police should evaluate the use of firearms among personnel and intensify the use of the police'€™s code of ethics to prevent subordinates from shooting their superiors or committing suicide,'€ he said.

According to him, the incident could be related to the heavy workload shouldered by many personnel, which may lead to feelings of depression and anxiety.

Two previous shootings took place in Nganjuk, East Java, in November 2013 and in Sukabumi, West Java, in January 2014.

Nganjuk Police First Brig. Bambang Setiawan died from complications relating to three gunshot wound. According to the police'€™s investigation he committed suicide because he felt guilty after stealing Rp 650,000 (US$57) from a fellow officer.

First Brig. Guntur Wahono from the Sukabumi Police also committed suicide after arguing with his fiancé.

National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Agus Rianto said the National Police had tightened the issuance of gun licenses among police personnel and the supervision of their usage in order to avoid gun misuse.

'€œTo obtain their firearm license, officers must to pass a psychological test. After acquiring the license, we conduct an evaluation every six months,'€ he said.

Agus said the National Police would continue to monitor the Jakarta Police investigation into the most recent case.

Following a day-long investigation, Brig. Susanto was declared a suspect in the case.

Jakarta Police chief detective Sr. Comr. Heru Pranoto said investigators had collected sufficient evidence implicating Susanto '€” who had argued with the victim only moments before the shooting '€” in the case.

'€œThe suspect confessed he had killed his superior Pamudji, after forensics found gunpowder residue,'€ he said, adding that the police would continue its investigation.

Following the autopsy, Pamudji was laid out at his residence in Cijantung, East Jakarta, before being buried at a public cemetery in the area on Wednesday afternoon. (dyl)

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