Jakarta – National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian pointed to the increased welfare of all police officers throughout the country and the improved public image of police institutions in an address at a ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of the National Police on Monday, all of which he said was the result of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's leadership.
Tito told the ceremony that the police had set up two new police branches – the West Sulawesi Police and the West Papua Police – during Jokowi's three-year presidency. During that time, the police also set up 11 new precinct offices, 99 new subprecinct offices and another 144 new subsector posts.
Tito added that state funds allocated to support the National Police had doubled to Rp 84 trillion (US$6.3 billion) this year from Rp 44 trillion in previous years.
He also used the occasion to praise the Jokowi administration's Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan), claiming that the program had helped to ease the financial burdens felt by police officers in accessing health facilities.
"We are really thankful for what Bapak President [Jokowi] and Bapak Vice President [Jusuf Kalla] have done to improve our institution," Tito told those in attendance at National Monument square in Central Jakarta.
"The National Police will continue to improve our performance and professionalism," he added. (msa/dmr)