The National Police Chief Opens Opportunities for ASN and Civil Professionals to Fill Positions in the National Police

JAKARTA - National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo stated that he was open to the proposal that a number of non-operational positions in the Indonesian National Police (Polri) could be filled by state civil servants (ASN) or civil professionals.

According to Sigit, this opportunity can be part of a reciprocal relationship between the police institution and ASN, as in the past, members of the National Police have also been given the opportunity to carry out duties outside the police structure.

"Yes, we do give reciprocal space for ASN to be able to join the police, that's it," said Sigit after attending the opening of the III Congress of the Indonesian Labor Union Confederation (KPBI) in Jakarta, Sunday, June 7.

The National Police Chief explained that so far, Polri personnel have occupied various positions outside the police institution according to the needs of the country. Therefore, according to him, it is not ruled out that ASN or professional personnel from outside the National Police can also fill certain positions that are not directly related to law enforcement functions and police operations.

"When we are given space outside the structure, we also give space from ASN outside the Police to be able to enter the Police," he said.

Although he expressed support for the principle, Sigit did not elaborate further on what positions could potentially be opened for civilians and the filling mechanism.

The discourse emerged after the Minister of Human Rights (HAM) Natalius Pigai proposed that the revision of Law Number 2 of 2002 concerning the National Police be used to strengthen professionalism and institutional governance of the police.

Pigai assessed that a number of strategic positions that are not directly related to the operational duties of the police can be filled by civilian professionals who have special competencies in their fields.

According to him, the involvement of civil elements can be directed at supporting sectors of organizations such as planning, human resource management, internal supervision, digital transformation, finance, personnel, to institutional governance.

"I propose that one of the contents of the revision of the Polri Law is to open a position for the main officials in the police who can be filled by civilians. Of course, positions that can be filled by civilians, such as administration, finance, inspectorate, or personnel that are not directly related to the main duties of the police," said Pigai.

According to Pigai, this step can be part of strengthening the professionalism of the National Police institution as well as expanding the application of the principle of civilian supremacy in government governance.

The discourse is now one of the issues that has emerged in the discussion of the revision of the Police Law. In addition to the issue of the possibility of the involvement of civilian elements, the discussion also covers various other aspects, ranging from organizational structure, authority, to institutional governance of the police.

Until now, the revision of the Police Law is still in the stage of discussion between the government and the DPR. Various proposals that have emerged will still be studied further before entering the next legislative process.