The Indonesian police force has a history of institutionalized sexism, but Jakarta’s Police Chief Mochamad Iriawan showed that it is still alive and well with some remarks he made today.
Iriawan was speaking at an event at City Hall today when he mentioned that he has asked all of his officers to act decisively against criminals when they are being arrested and to not hesitate to shoot them if the situation calls upon it.
“I have ordered that different types of criminal offenders be shot on sight. We have a procedure. If precinct chiefs are not brave enough, I ask that their wives measure their waist circumference and that their pants be replaced with skirts,” Iriawan said as quoted by Kompas.
We’re sure there were some police officers who found Iriawan’s remarks funny. But the brave female police officers who also risk their lives to protect the capital? Probably not so much.
Also, we’re not cops, but we have to guess that it takes more bravery to subdue and arrest a criminal without using deadly force than it does to immediately just shooting them.
Iriawan’s words disturbingly echo those of National Narcotics Agency Chief Budi Waseso, who recently declared that he was ready to have his officers shoot drug dealers on sight.
