Riau Police Chief Gaungkan Police as Guardians of Civilization at the 80th Anniversary of the STIK Polri

JAKARTA - Riau Police Chief Inspector General Herry Heryawan delivered a scientific oration entitled "Green Policing: Police as Guardians of Civilization" on the 80th Anniversary of the Police Higher School of Police (STIK) Lemdiklat Polri in Jakarta.

In the academic forum which carried the theme "Democratic Policing and Cultural Reform to Gain Public Trust in the Digital Era", the Riau Police Chief offered Green Policing as an idea for the development of future policing which is no longer only oriented towards state security and human security, but also ecological security as a foundation for the sustainability of civilization.

The oration was delivered in front of the leadership of the National Police, professors, academic community of STIK, and graduates. In this moment, Inspector General Herry emphasized that the police institution can no longer view security threats only in a conventional framework.

According to the doctor from STIK, climate change, environmental damage, forest and land fires, river pollution, and the loss of biodiversity have evolved into a real threat to human life and social stability.

"Green Policing is an evolution of the very idea of security. From state security that protects the country, to human security that protects humans, and now evolving towards ecological security that protects civilization, humans, and nature simultaneously," said the Police Chief in his speech, Wednesday, July 17.

Irjen Herry explained that the experience of serving in Riau provided a direct lesson on the complexity of ecological threats.

Riau Province, which has one of the largest peat ecosystems in the world, is also facing various environmental issues, ranging from forest and land fires, encroachment of forest areas, illegal logging, hunting of protected animals, river pollution, to mining without permits.

According to him, this condition requires a change in the police paradigm. The police are not enough to just be present after a crime or disaster occurs, but must be able to read various environmental indicators as part of an early detection system for security.

"The peat moisture figure can be a signal of security. Changes in vegetation can be an indicator of risk. Ecological data must be seen as important as criminal data," said the 1996 Akpol graduate.

The Riau Police Chief mapped Green Policing into three main pillars. First, a preventive approach through the development of collective awareness and ecological literacy of the community, including through Green Satkamling, environmental education in schools, public campaigns, and capacity building for Polri members.

Second, a repressive approach through strengthening law enforcement against environmental crimes such as forest fires, illegal mining, forest encroachment, and tracking economic actors behind ecological crimes.

Third, a restorative approach through various environmental recovery programs such as reforestation, river basin rehabilitation, canal embankment construction, to the Green Harmony Fund program.

He also highlighted the JALUR (Riau Tour for the People) Program as one of the concrete implementations of Green Policing.

The program places rivers as living spaces that must be maintained in an integrated manner through cross-sector collaboration by providing health services, education, environmental education, and strengthening social relations of the community along the river basin.

In a broader perspective, Green Policing is positioned not only as an institutional innovation, but as a new social contract between the police, the community, and the environment.

Therefore, he assessed that the future of the police institution would be determined by its ability to transform into eco-stewards or guardians of ecological sustainability.

"The biggest threat to future social stability comes from ecological damage. Therefore, the police must be present as a guardian of the conditions for the continuation of life before the disorder is born," he said.

Ending his speech, the Police Chief emphasized that maintaining the environment is in essence maintaining the future of humanity.

According to him, if the police are able to be at the forefront of the struggle, then the role of the police is no longer merely as law enforcement, but also as a guardian of civilization.

"Protecting the environment is protecting the future of humanity. If we take care of nature, then nature will take care of us. And if the police are able to stand at the forefront of that struggle, then the police are not just law enforcement. He is the guardian of civilization," he said.

He added that the Green Policing concept developed by the Riau Police was an elaboration of the Precision concept initiated by the National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo.

"Through this approach, the police are not only positioned as security guards and law enforcement officers, but also as an institution that plays a role in maintaining environmental sustainability and the future of civilization," said the Riau Police Chief.