The issuance of National Police Regulation (Perpol) No. 10 of 2025, which regulates the assignment of active police officers outside the organizational structure of the Indonesian National Police (Polri), has drawn criticism from various parties. The policy is considered capable of disrupting civil governance and undermining the merit-based principles of the State Civil Apparatus (ASN). Moreover, the regulation contradicts Constitutional Court Decision No. 114/PUU-XXIII/2025, which stipulates that active police officers must resign or retire from the police if they assume positions outside the force.
A lecturer in Public Policy Management at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and an expert in public policy analysis, Dr. Subarsono, assessed that assigning active police officers to civilian positions could lead to a regression in good governance practices and pose a threat to democratic principles.
According to him, this policy disregards the core functions of the police as stipulated in Article 13 of Law No. 2 of 2002, namely maintaining security and providing protection and public services.
He argued that this phenomenon cannot be separated from deviations from the police’s primary functions as regulated by law.
“I rationally view this phenomenon as a contest over economic resources that can benefit police personnel and as a setback in the practice of good governance,” he explained during an interview on Tuesday (Dec. 23, 2025).
According to him, the placement of active police officers in various civilian positions risks fostering authoritarianism and disrupting bureaucratic processes that have long been built on participatory and dialogic foundations.
He pointed out the contrast between the hierarchical nature of police institutions and the emphasis on deliberation in civil bureaucracies.
This difference in organizational character, he said, creates tension in everyday governance practices.
“The police operate under a single-command principle, while civil organizational culture relies on dialogue and space for differing opinions before policies are formulated,” he elaborated.
He further added that this condition is also expected to weaken civilian supremacy, one of the fundamental pillars of a democratic state.
If this policy continues and the Constitutional Court’s decision is not substantively implemented, Dr. Subarsono believes governance quality will decline.
In a democratic system, he argued, civilians should lead civil institutions; police involvement would instead weaken civilian control over the state apparatus originating from the police force.
This situation could erode the spirit of reform that sought to separate the roles of the military, the police, and the civil bureaucracy.
“The return of active police officers to civil positions can be seen as a step backward from post-1998 reform and has the potential to weaken civilian control over the state apparatus,” he stated.
Furthermore, Dr. Subarsono emphasized that failure to substantively implement the Constitutional Court’s decision could pose long-term risks to the legitimacy of public policies and disrupt governmental stability.
He explained that civil officials who lose social legitimacy will face difficulties in implementing policies due to social resistance and minimal political support, which would be dangerous for long-term governance effectiveness.
The placement of active police officers in positions across 17 civil institutions has sparked controversy and prolonged political unrest, as segments of society oppose the decision.
“This phenomenon has the potential to reduce positions available to ASN and harm their career prospects in the long term,” he added.
As a policy measure to restore meritocratic principles and bureaucratic professionalism amid the controversy over police officers holding dual roles in civil institutions, Dr. Subarsono emphasized that the government should pursue a soft policy approach that avoids open political conflict.
He stated that the president currently needs to take two main policy steps. The first is to instruct the National Police Chief to revoke National Police Regulation No. 10 of 2025, which is inconsistent with the Constitutional Court’s ruling.
This step, he argued, is crucial to ensure consistency between executive policies and the Constitution. Second, the President could exercise executive authority by issuing a Government Regulation or Presidential Regulation that explicitly annuls the police regulation.
“These two steps would represent a firm government stance in safeguarding bureaucratic professionalism and limiting the expansion of security apparatus roles within the civil sphere,” Dr. Subarsono concluded.
Author: Cyntia Noviana
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Photograph: CNBC Indonesia