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nsp. Gen. Ari Dono Sukmanto may not be the best, but he may also be among just a handful of officers acceptable to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and the many competing factions in the police force to lead the detectives division.

In his 31 years of service, Ari has chosen to play it safe with no notable achievements nor severe failures recorded throughout his career.

After taking over the prestigious job on Tuesday from his predecessor Comr. Gen. Anang Iskandar, who is set to retire this month, Ari said he had many plans, but he was willing to compromise in order to avoid making disturbances.

Ari said he would not pursue cases that might rock the boat or harm the economy.

“The essence of our law enforcement is not to ignite disturbances. If we rock the boat, we worry that it will disrupt the economy,” said Ari.

“The detectives division will support the programs laid out by the government, particularly in ensuring that the economy runs as planned.”

Mid last year, Jokowi instructed the police to refrain from pursuing graft cases involving state company executives and bureaucrats over concerns that the cases might disturb his economic agenda.

The President’s instruction, however, was ignored by then National Police Detectives Division chief Comr. Gen. Budi “Buwas” Waseso, who immediately embarked on aggressive anticorruption operations.

Buwas grabbed the public’s attention when he raided the office of state-owned port operator PT Pelindo II in Tanjung Priok, Jakarta. The company’s then president director, RJ Lino, who is now a graft suspect, is a close associate of Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

On the heels of that particular brouhaha, Budi was immediately removed and assigned to lead the National Narcotics Agency (BNN).

A faction in the police led by National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan, supported by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), strongly opposed Budi’s removal.

But two other factions, one led by National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti and another by former National Police chief Gen. (ret.) Sutarman, supported the move.

The dissent among factions, however, has slowly diminished under Badrodin‘s leadership, and Ari’s appointment is seen as a compromise.

“Ari is a figure that can be accepted by the many competing factions,” said Strategic Indonesia Police Study Institute (Lemkapi) executive director Edi Hasibuan.

“He may not be the best. But his leadership will be a comfort to everyone,” he said.

Unlike the highly decorated National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) chief Comr. Gen. Tito Karnavian, Ari has left many high-profile cases unresolved.

From the murder of a noted archeologist in 2008 to a major graft case revolving around condensate sales by PT Trans Pacific Petrochemical Indotama, which implicates many of the political and business elite, Ari has a lot of baggage to handle.

But despite these pending cases, Ari is eyeing new cases in the short run. His attention will be on the rampant hoarding of staple foods by businessmen ahead of the holy month of Ramadhan.

“My immediate focus is to launch a crackdown on hoarders and food-price speculators,” he said.

“Internally, I will get rid of recalcitrant officers who play around with cases,” he pledged.

According to the National Police Commission (Kompolnas), a police watchdog, around 90 percent of public complaints centered on miscreant officers within the graft-ridden detectives division.

Badrodin instructed Ari in his inauguration remarks to focus on internal reform as detective work was closely related to public service.

The police chief also encouraged Ary to carry out his duties without compromising his loyalty.

“Your utmost loyalty and responsibility are needed in carrying out your duty,” said Badrodin, who is now facing intense demand from dissenting factions in the police not to accept Jokowi’s proposal to have his term extended beyond his retirement age in July.
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