DPR Approves New Police Law, Retirement Increases and Police Can Become Officials

Illustration of a police officer apple (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The DPR RI officially passed the third amendment to Law Number 2 of 2002 concerning the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia (Polri) in the Plenary Meeting on June 9, 2026. One of the points that most caught the attention in the revision is the opening of opportunities for active members of the National Police to occupy certain civil positions related to police functions.

The provisions are regulated in Article 28A and Article 29 of the new Police Law. The government stated that this policy is necessary to answer the increasingly complex needs of the country, especially in institutions or ministries that have law enforcement, security, investigation, and oversight functions.

Through the new rules, active members of the National Police can be placed in certain positions outside the police institution without having to resign from the police service.

The government reasoned that changes in the strategic environment, technological developments, and the complexity of security threats require the National Police institution to have a more adaptive and flexible legal basis.

However, this provision is also one of the parts that has received the most public attention. The reason is that previously the Constitutional Court in 2025 confirmed that members of the National Police who occupy civil positions must resign or retire from the police service.

Apart from the regulation regarding civil posts, the new Police Law also contains a number of other important changes.

First, there is a clarification of the responsibility of the National Police Chief, which now includes not only the implementation of police duties and the training of personnel, but also the availability of organizational facilities and infrastructure.

Second, the adjustment of the main duties of the National Police to modern security challenges such as cybercrime, the spread of digital disinformation, and transnational crime.

Third, opening opportunities for people with disabilities to become members of the National Police in accordance with the competence and needs of the available positions as part of strengthening the principle of inclusiveness.

Fourth, strengthening the fulfillment of the rights of members of the National Police as part of human resource management reform and institutional professionalism improvement.

Fifth, a clearer arrangement regarding the assignment of members of the National Police outside the police institution to support the needs of state institutions that require competence in the field of security and law enforcement.

In addition, the revision of the law also changes the retirement age of members of the National Police. The soldiers and soldiers are now entering retirement age at 59 years, while the first officers, middle officers, and senior officers retire at the age of 60 years. For senior officers with four stars, service can be extended for a maximum of one year based on organizational needs and presidential decisions.

Another point that was also strengthened was the role of institutional oversight, including strengthening the function of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) as part of efforts to maintain the accountability of the police institution.

The government considers this revision of the Police Law to be a step in institutional modernization to face future security challenges. However, a number of circles consider that the implementation of the derivative rules will later be an important factor to ensure that the expansion of the role of the National Police remains in line with the principles of democracy, professionalism, and public accountability.