The commemoration of the 80th Bhayangkara Day on Wednesday (July 1) marks an important moment for the Indonesian National Police (Polri) to reaffirm its commitment to strengthening public trust. Carrying the theme “80 Tahun Mengabdi, Polri Untuk Masyarakat,” the institution has pledged to continue improving the quality of its public services through tangible efforts that directly benefit society.
Despite this commitment, Polri continues to face significant challenges in restoring public confidence after heightened public scrutiny of its performance in recent years. The 80th anniversary is therefore seen as an opportune moment to assess the institution’s direction and organizational culture.
Professor Armaidy Armawi, Professor of Philosophy at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and Head of the Master’s and Doctoral Program in National Resilience Studies at the UGM Graduate School, believes that this eight-decade milestone should not be limited to restoring Polri’s public image. Instead, he argued, it should serve as an important opportunity for Polri to conduct a comprehensive evaluation and deep reflection on its institutional identity and culture.
“When we talk about the 80th anniversary of Polri, what is needed is a thorough self-evaluation. Since Polri was separated from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), I do not believe the institution has ever undergone a comprehensive evaluation,” said Professor Armaidy during an interview at the UGM Center for Inter-University Studies (PAU) Building on Tuesday (July 7).
According to Professor Armaidy, institutional reform within Polri should not begin with organizational restructuring or regulatory changes. Instead, the institution must first return to the core values that underpin policing.
“I always remind people that when we become entangled at the end, we must return to the beginning. Before talking about reform, we should first ask whether Polri still upholds its foundational values,” he emphasized.
He explained that within the policing context, the values of Pancasila are embodied in the principles of Tribrata and Catur Prasetya. These two principles, he said, constitute the moral foundation that should guide every police officer before exercising the authority entrusted to them.
“Only when that foundation remains strong should we talk about reform. We should not rush into it while the foundation itself is weak,” said Professor Armaidy.
According to him, the challenges currently facing Polri are not merely related to individual behavior but also to institutional culture. This is especially important given the broad discretionary authority granted to police officers in carrying out their duties.
“A strong commitment to the values of Tribrata and Catur Prasetya must balance such broad discretion. Otherwise, it becomes dangerous because that discretion can be used for virtually anything,” he said.
Professor Armaidy also stressed that Polri’s institutional culture should return to the spirit of public service. As a civilian institution with a uniformed role, he argued, the police should serve as protectors, guardians, and public servants whose presence brings security rather than fear.
“When people see a police officer, they should feel reassured. That is the simplest indicator. The question now, after 80 years, is whether that function has truly been fulfilled,” he said.
For that reason, he believes the greatest reflection on the 80th Bhayangkara Day should focus not only on improving the institution’s image but on rebuilding an institutional culture rooted in Tribrata, Catur Prasetya, and Pancasila.
“If the culture is right, behavior will follow. But if the foundation is not strengthened, we will keep adding regulations without addressing the root of the problem,” he said.
In addition to emphasizing the importance of strengthening institutional culture, Professor Armaidy called for caution in appointing active police officers to civilian positions in ministries and state institutions. Referring to Article 28A of Law No. 5 of 2026, which regulates the assignment of active police officers outside the police institution, he emphasized that each state institution has its own mandate and area of authority, and that their functions should not overlap.
“The civilian sector already has its own human resources. There is no need to continually supplement them with personnel from other institutions. Every institution should be allowed to carry out the functions that fall within its own authority,” Professor Armawi explained.
In closing, Professor Armaidy expressed hope that the 80th Bhayangkara Day would become a moment of profound reflection for Polri to return to the values that define its institutional identity. He believes that strengthening institutional culture is the most fundamental step before reforms in other areas.
“If the foundation is sound, the culture will change. If the culture changes, institutional behavior will also change. Only then will public trust grow,” he concluded, underscoring that lasting trust depends on restoring the institution’s foundation.
Author: Agito Sitepu
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-Editor: Priyanandaningrat
Photo: Documentation of Medcom