From Criticism to Collaboration: Assessing the Police Reform from the Public’s Perspective and Its Management Implications
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37641/jimkes.v14i1.4859Keywords:
Institutional Legitimacy, Perception Transformation, Polri Reform, Procedural Justice, Public TrustAbstract
Reform of the Indonesian National Police since its separation from the Indonesian National Armed Forces in 1999 has become a strategic agenda in the consolidation of democracy. Transformation efforts through various programs, from Bureaucratic Reform to the Precision Police vision, aim to build a professional, transparent, and accountable institution. However, public perception of Polri performance remains fluctuating, evident in the paradox between the public’s need for security and increasing criticism related to corruption, discrimination, and human rights violations. This study aims to analyze Polri reform from the public’s perspective, assess the transition from criticism to collaboration, and identify forms of criticism and patterns of collaboration. The method used is a qualitative constructivist paradigm with a literature study approach and secondary data analysis from CSO reports, public opinion surveys, and the media. The findings indicate that digital service innovation is appreciated by the public, but integrity and accountability remain weaknesses, resulting in criticism continuing to emerge as indicators of legitimacy erosion. In conclusion, internalizing procedural justice, building social legitimacy, and consistent dialogic communication are key to transforming criticism into a strategic partnership between Polri and the public.
Downloads
References
Abdilah, L., M. Sidik Priadana, & Juniarti, A. T. (2025). Innovation capability as mediator between competence, emotional intelligence, support, and lecturer performance in Indonesia. Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen Kesatuan, 13(5), 3385–3396.
Asad, M. M., & Zia, S. (2025). Impact media portrays on police legitimacy in times of emergencies: A global perspective. International Journal of Emergency Services, 14(1), 20–40.
Dwyer, J. A. (2017). The Indonesian National Police and the challenges of democratic reform. London: Routledge.
Elsam. (2020). Laporan tahunan kondisi hak asasi manusia di Indonesia. Jakarta: Lembaga Studi dan Advokasi Masyarakat.
Friedmann, R. R. (1992). Community policing: Comparative perspectives and prospects. Westport: Greenwood Press.
Goldsmith, A. (2005). Police reform and community confidence. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology, 38(3), 369–389.
Grunig, J. E., & Hunt, T. (1984). Managing public relations. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
Hariyanto, G. (2022). Reformasi sektor keamanan dan tantangan akuntabilitas polisi di Indonesia. Jurnal Ilmu Politik dan Pemerintahan, 10(2), 123–140.
Herdiansyah, H. (2023). Smart city based on community empowerment, social capital, and public trust in urban areas. Global Journal of Environmental Science & Management, 9(1), 2100–2112.
Herlydinata, M. D. (2025). Toward digital community policing: Opportunities and barriers for social media engagement in Indonesia. Proceedings of Police Academy, 1(1), 72–86.
Hikam, M. A. S. (2021). Democracy and the policing in Indonesia: The unfinished reform. Jakarta: Gramedia Pustaka Utama.
ICW. (2021). Catatan kritis kinerja penegak hukum 2021. Jakarta: Indonesia Corruption Watch.
Indarto, I. (2024). Leadership strategies in building an organizational culture of integrity to maintain domestic security in the era of Industrial Revolution 4.0 in support of national development. INJURITY: Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 3(5), 335–344.
Kurniawan, R. C. (2023). Strengthening cooperation between TNI and Polri in improving law enforcement performance in Indonesia. The Indonesian Journal of International Clinical Legal Education, 5(1), 73–102.
Lipsky, M. (2010). Street-level bureaucracy: Dilemmas of the individual in public services. New York: Russell Sage Foundation
Liu, J., Shahab, Y., & Hoque, H. (2022). Government response measures and public trust during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from around the world. British Journal of Management, 33(2), 571–602.
Martin, K., & Waldman, A. (2023). Are algorithmic decisions legitimate? The effect of process and outcomes on perceptions of legitimacy of AI decisions. Journal of Business Ethics, 183(3), 653–670.
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.
Mishler, W., & Rose, R. (2001). What are the origins of political trust? Testing institutional and cultural theories in post-communist societies. Comparative Political Studies, 34(1), 30–62.
Modise, J. M. (2023). Community engagement in policing: A path to more meaningful, knowledgeable, and successful public consultation. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, 8(6), 3894–3906.
Mukhsinin, R. Z. (2023). Moral degradation of police agencies in the perspective of public trust. Eastasouth Proceeding of Humanities and Social Sciences, 1(1), 69–78.
Ombudsman Republik Indonesia. (2023) Laporan Tahunan 2023. Retrieved on November 13, 2025, from https://share.google/HbT6HOkpa4xiHe3Lb
Pabesak, A. S., Pasolang, Y., & Jaya, A. K. (2023). Optimization the role and function of the community police in maintaining community security and orderliness in Sidomukti Village. International Journal of Business, Law, and Education, 4(2), 636–645.
Puslitbang Polri. (2024). Laporan hasil survei kepuasan masyarakat terhadap pelayanan Polri (data diperbarui). Jakarta: Pusat Penelitian dan Pengembangan POLRI.
Purves, D., & Davis, J. (2022). Public trust, institutional legitimacy, and the use of algorithms in criminal justice. Public Affairs Quarterly, 36(2), 136–162.
Putro, W. P. (2020). Membangun kepercayaan publik: Studi kasus reformasi kepolisian. Yogyakarta: Gadjah Mada University Press.
Rijal, S., & Saranani, F. (2023). The role of blockchain technology in increasing economic transparency and public trust. Technology and Society Perspectives (TACIT), 1(2), 56–67.
Rizki, F., Setiono, J., & Sutrisno, S. (2025). Analysis of public distortion of police tasks that impact post-truth information. Greenation International Journal of Law and Social Sciences, 3(2), 446–453.
Setara Institute. (2023). Laporan tahunan kondisi kebebasan beragama/berkeyakinan dan hak asasi manusia di Indonesia. Jakarta: Setara Institute.
Sihombing, I. A., & Amalia, R. (2021). Reformasi Polri dan perubahan paradigma penegakan hukum di Indonesia. Jurnal Hukum & Pembangunan, 50(1), 1–20.
Simatupang, C. S. (2020). Mengukur kinerja reformasi birokrasi Polri: Evaluasi dan tantangan. Jakarta: Pustaka Reformasi.
Singh, M., & Yadav, M. (2025). Building trust and fostering collaborations through community policing: Insights from India and the global perspective. In Rethinking the police for a better future: Navigating policing challenges with accountability and trust (pp. 103–130). Cham: Springer Nature.
Siregar, L. (2022). Peran media sosial dalam mengawasi dan mengkritisi kinerja institusi penegak hukum di era digital. Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi, 15(2), 150–165.
Skogan, W. G. (2006). Police and community in Chicago: A tale of three cities. New York: Oxford University Press.
Skogan, W. G. (2021). Community policing: Principles, implementation, and evaluation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Spanuth, A., & Urbano, D. (2024). Exploring social enterprise legitimacy within ecosystems from an institutional approach: A systematic literature review and research agenda. International Journal of Management Reviews, 26(2), 211–231.
Trojanowicz, R., & Bucqueroux, B. (1990). Community policing: A contemporary perspective. Cincinnati: Anderson Publishing.
Tyler, T. R. (1990). Why people obey the law. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Tyler, T. R. (2014). The role of procedural justice in promoting rule of law and cooperation with legal authorities. In F. Parisi (Ed.), The Oxford handbook of behavioral economics and the law (pp. 231-241). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Tyler, T. R., & Huo, Y. J. (2002). Trust in the law: Encouraging public cooperation with the police and courts. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.
UNODC. (2023). Reports and studies on police service quality, transparency, and public communication in Southeast Asia. Vienna: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Winarno, B. (2018). Kebijakan publik: Teori, proses, dan kajian strategis pembangunan nasional. Yogyakarta: Media Pressindo.
