Minister Pigai Proposes Professional Civilians for Senior Police Roles

Minister of Human Rights Natalius Pigai has proposed a significant structural shift within the Indonesian National Police (Polri), suggesting that professional civilians be permitted to occupy senior non-operational positions. The proposal, made during discussions regarding the revision of the Polri Law, seeks to integrate civilian expertise into the organization’s high-level management.

Strengthening Civilian Supremacy

Minister Pigai stated on Friday, June 5, 2026, that opening senior positions to civilians is a necessary step to maintain balance. He argued that because police officers currently hold primary positions in civilian institutions, a reciprocal arrangement would support democratic governance.

According to Pigai, this move could serve as a momentum to reinforce professionalism and civilian supremacy. He noted that involving civilian professionals in key leadership roles is a practise already established in various modern democratic nations.

Did You Know? Under Police Regulation (Perpol) Number 10 of 2025, active Polri members were permitted to hold positions across 17 different ministries and state agencies, including the KPK, BIN, and the Ministry of Law.

Defining Non-Operational Roles

The proposal specifically excludes roles directly related to the core operational duties of the police. Instead, Pigai suggests that civilians fill positions focused on strategic administration and managerial support.

Proposed areas for civilian leadership include:

Financial management and personnel administration.
Human resource management and organizational governance.
Internal oversight and strategic planning.
Digital transformation.

These roles would be equivalent to high leadership positions, specifically those at the Echelon I or high-level leadership (madya) level.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter suggests that this proposal highlights a critical tension between internal police regulations and judicial mandates. By proposing a “balance,” the administration may be attempting to reconcile the operational needs of the state with the legal requirements of civilian oversight.

Legal Conflicts and Regulatory Tension

The debate arrives amid ongoing controversy regarding Perpol Number 10 of 2025, issued by National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo. This regulation allowed police officers to occupy roles in 17 entities, including the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Transportation, and the Financial Services Authority (OJK).

Menteri HAM Natalius Pigai Sindir Pejabat “Lebay” Rekrut TNI-Polri ke Jabatan Sipil

However, this policy has been criticized for potentially contradicting Constitutional Court (MK) Decision Number 114/PUU-XXIII/2025, which prohibits active police officers from holding positions outside the police structure.

Potential Future Developments

To resolve the legal deadlock between the police regulation and the Constitutional Court’s ruling, the government is currently preparing a Government Regulation (PP). This new regulation may serve as the mechanism to end the polemic surrounding the placement of police officers in civilian roles.

Depending on the outcome of the Polri Law revision, the integration of professional civilians into the police force’s administrative hierarchy could become a formal reality, potentially altering the organizational culture of the institution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which positions in Polri are proposed to be filled by civilians?
Only non-operational roles, such as those in finance, personnel, internal oversight, digital transformation, and strategic planning, equivalent to Echelon I positions.

Why does Minister Pigai believe this change is necessary?
He believes it creates a necessary balance since police officers already occupy positions in civilian institutions, and it would strengthen professionalism and civilian supremacy.

What is the current legal conflict regarding police officers in civilian roles?
Perpol Number 10 of 2025 allows police to serve in 17 civilian agencies, but some argue this violates Constitutional Court Decision Number 114/PUU-XXIII/2025.

Do you believe that allowing civilians to hold senior administrative roles in the police would improve democratic governance?