Police reform: Turning resistance into a path for transformation

Abstract

This article examines Indonesia’s renewed police reform agenda in 2025, focusing on the Indonesian National Police (Polri) and the persistent challenge of institutional resistance. Rather than treating resistance as an obstacle, the article argues that it is a predictable and manageable feature of organisational change within large, hierarchical public institutions. Drawing on public policy and governance perspectives, the analysis highlights how past reform efforts, particularly community policing initiatives, often faltered due to misalignment between reform objectives, organisational culture, and officer incentives. The article proposes a constructive reform pathway centred on internal buy-in, leadership coherence, professional incentives, and developmental accountability. By reframing reform as a professional advancement rather than external pressure, the piece positions police leadership as key agents of cultural transformation. Finally, the article contends that sustainable police reform depends not only on institutional redesign but also on renewing professional identity, trust, and legitimacy within Polri as a cornerstone of Indonesia’s democratic governance.