The police in Jakarta do not have the greatest reputation as public servants, more often associated with taking bribes from citizens instead of helping them. And while the police should always be criticized for their wrongdoings, we must also honor and respect the many honest, hardworking officers out there that actually do try their best to serve the public.
A Jakarta Highway Police officer, 33-year-old Brigadier Hergiansyah did just that yesterday afternoon, when he noticed a car stopped by the side of an overpass in Tomang, West Jakarta.
Stopping to check why he had pulled off to the side of the road, Hergiansyah saw that the driver, named Edward, had a flat tire that he was struggling to fix.
The police officer immediately helped Edward replace the tire. When they were finished, Edward tried to give Hergiansyah some money to show him his appreciation but the officer politely refused, simply saying, “No need Pak, it’s my duty.”
Edward was so touched by this that he came to Jakarta Police Headquarters today to commend Hergiansyah for his deed and donate 200 face masks to the police as a sign of gratitude.
“We greatly appreciate the help of Pak Edward, who care about the duties of police. The masks he has donated are of course very beneficial to us. Helping people is our duty as police officers,” Jakarta Highway Police Superintendent General Pitoyo told Detik today.
While some, including Hergiansyah, would say he needed no thanks since he was just doing as a police officer should, he should be praised – in the hopes that more of his fellow officers follow suit.
