MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The 80th anniversary of Bhayangkara Day on July 1, 2026, has once again drawn public attention, particularly from legal activists and civil society groups. Rather than being viewed merely as an annual ceremony filled with praise for the Kepolisian Negara Republik Indonesia (Polri), the occasion is being urged to serve as a moment of deep reflection on the direction of police reform in Indonesia.
Amid growing public criticism over the quality of law enforcement, transparency, accountability, and professionalism within the security forces, the Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH) Medan emphasized that the police anniversary should not be reduced to a ceremonial event. Instead, it must become a comprehensive evaluation of more than two decades of institutional reform since the Reformasi era.
LBH Medan Director Irvan Saputra, S.H., M.H., stated that over the past decade, the police have actively promoted various institutional slogans such as "Polri PRESISI" and "Polri for the Community," yet their implementation on the ground has not fully aligned with reality.
Bhayangkara Day as a Moment of Evaluation
Irvan stressed that the anniversary of the National Police should serve as a moment of assessment rather than celebration alone. Grand ceremonies and symbolic events, he noted, hold little value if they are not accompanied by concrete reform measures.
"The police anniversary should be a turning point, not a stage for mere performance and symbolic politics. The grandeur of ceremonies, parades, and annual celebrations loses its meaning if it is not accompanied by legal accountability and the courage to implement fundamental reforms," Irvan said in an official statement on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
Structural Issues and Reform Pressure
According to
LBH Medan, public pressure for police reform includes key aspects such as strengthening internal and external oversight mechanisms, improving transparency, and ensuring consistent accountability in the exercise of police authority.
Irvan also referred to various data highlighting persistent issues within the police institution. Based on records from the internal oversight division, Divisi Profesi dan Pengamanan (Propam), the police recorded a total of 1,324 disciplinary violations in 2024.
In 2025, the number reportedly increased significantly. A total of 5,061 disciplinary rulings were documented, including 1,711 cases of special detention (patsus), 1,289 written warnings, 804 suspensions from education programs, 510 promotion freezes, 364 demotions, and 393 other sanctions.
Additionally, in 2025, there were 9,817 disciplinary proceedings handled through ethical tribunal processes. These resulted in 2,707 sanctions for dishonorable conduct, 1,951 verbal or written apologies, 1,709 special detentions, 1,196 demotions, 689 dismissals from service (PTDH), and 637 cases involving suspension of promotion or education.
Mass Arrests and Public Concern
LBH Medan also cited data from the Yayasan Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Indonesia (YLBHI), which recorded that between August 25 and 31, 2025, a total of 3,337 people were arrested, 1,042 were injured, and 10 people were killed.
Irvan stressed that these figures indicate the problems cannot be seen as isolated incidents, but rather reflect structural and cultural issues within the institution.
"This issue cannot be dismissed as the behavior of individual officers alone. It already reflects structural and cultural dimensions that urgently require comprehensive reform," he said.
Weaknesses in Oversight Mechanisms
Internal oversight bodies such as Propam and the Inspektorat Pengawasan Umum (Itwasum) were also deemed ineffective by LBH Medan, as repeated violations continue to occur without consistent prevention.
Irvan further criticized external oversight from the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), which he said often responds only after public pressure or viral incidents, without addressing root causes systematically.
The National Police Commission (Kompolnas RI), meanwhile, is considered to lack sufficient authority to enforce effective oversight, functioning largely as an advisory body without investigative or summons powers.
"The Kompolnas has no authority to conduct investigations or issue compulsory summonses, which significantly limits its role in
police oversight," Irvan explained.
He also criticized the legislative process of the Police Law, which he said was conducted too quickly and without adequate public participation, failing to meet the principle of substantive inclusivity.
Call for Comprehensive Reform
LBH Medan is calling for a comprehensive reform of the police institution with broad involvement from civil society, academics, and independent institutions. It also urges stronger internal and external oversight systems, along with greater transparency in criminal case handling.
In addition, the organization calls for strengthening Kompolnas by granting expanded powers, including subpoena authority and sanctioning mechanisms against police officers who violate regulations.
Irvan concluded that all recommendations are aimed at strengthening democratic rule of law principles and ensuring that every citizen receives fair and non-discriminatory legal treatment. (IDNC)
REPORTER:
Darmailawati | EDITOR:
Fik Sagala