Jakarta.  Indonesia’s National Police (Polri) on Monday said only about 300 active officers are serving in civilian managerial posts, rejecting claims that thousands of police personnel occupy such roles. The clarification follows a Constitutional Court ruling that bans active officers from holding civilian positions, prompting Polri to form a special working group to review the decision.

Inspector General Sandi Nugroho, the police spokesman, said media reports describing more than 4,000 police officers as filling strategic civilian jobs were inaccurate. Most personnel assigned outside Polri, he stressed, serve in nonmanagerial support functions.

“Based on the briefing this morning, the actual number is far smaller than what has been reported. There are roughly 300 officers in managerial roles,” Sandi told reporters at the Criminal Investigation Department in Jakarta. “The figure of 4,132 does not represent officers holding influential civilian positions. The rest are in nonmanagerial posts.”

According to Sandi, these nonmanagerial assignments include staff roles, aides-de-camp, security escorts, and administrative support within ministries and state institutions. “They do not occupy positions that shape policy or influence civilian governance,” he said.

In response, Polri has formed a special working group to conduct a comprehensive review of the court’s decision. Sandi said the national police chief, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, convened top officials on Monday morning and instructed them to establish the task force immediately.

“The working group will prepare a rapid assessment of the ruling to prevent misinterpretation,” Sandi said. “Assignments for two-star generals and above, for example, have always required presidential approval. Positions below that level are based on decisions from the relevant ministry or institution. This needs to be carefully aligned with the Court’s ruling.”

He added that the assessment will involve coordination with the National Civil Service Agency and the Constitutional Court. The Police’s Human Resources and Legal Divisions have been tasked with leading the review. “The National Police will fully respect the ruling,” Sandi said, adding that the working group has been instructed to complete its work as quickly as possible.

Broader Implications for Anti-Corruption Agency

The decision is also prompting scrutiny within the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), which relies heavily on personnel seconded from multiple state institutions.

KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo said the agency’s legal bureau had begun analyzing the impact of the Court’s decision on its staffing structure and operations. “The process is ongoing, and we will present the findings to the public once it is completed,” he said during a press briefing at the KPK headquarters in South Jakarta.

Budi acknowledged that many key posts within the KPK --from investigations and prosecutions to finance, administration, public outreach, and data management-- are filled by personnel from the police, the Attorney General’s Office, and various ministries.

“These supporting human resources complement the competencies of internal KPK staff,” he said. “If the ruling were applied rigidly, the implications for the KPK would be significant. The institution does not only conduct enforcement but also prevention, education, and administrative functions that require diverse expertise.”

The Constitutional Court ruling, delivered last week, requires active police officers to resign before taking any civilian position, asserting the need for institutional separation and legal clarity. The decision followed a judicial review petition that argued the previous loophole allowed senior police generals to assume powerful civilian posts, raising concerns about professionalism and accountability.

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