Deputy Chief of the Polri (Wakapolri), Komjen Pol Dedi Prasetyo, Rector of the University of Riau Prof. Dr. Sri Indarti, S.E., M.Si., and Kapolda of Riau, Irjen Pol Herry Heryawan at the inauguration of the Environmental Police Studies Center (LPPM UNRI).

progresifjaya.co.id,  PEKANBARU — The Center for Police Studies in the Environmental Sector, under the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) at the University of Riau (UNRI), was officially inaugurated at the UNRI campus in Pekanbaru on Friday, September 18, 2026. This inauguration marks a step toward strengthening collaboration between the Polri and higher education institutions to address the growing complexity of issues surrounding forest and land fires (karhutla) and environmental crimes.

Representing the Polri Headquarters, Deputy Polri Chief, Komjen Pol Dedi Prasetyo welcomed the inauguration. He noted, that university involvement is crucial for reinforcing the transformation of the Polri through the advancement of knowledge, research, and cross-sector collaboration.

“On behalf of the Polri, i extend my appreciation to the Rector and the entire academic community for their initiative and commitment in establishing this Center for Police Studies. The participation of universities represents a vital step in expanding academic collaboration networks within the field of police science, strengthening the Tridharma of Higher Education, and supporting the transformation of the Polri,” he explained.

As is widely known, environmental threats are increasingly intertwined with public security and community well-being. Issues such as forest and land fires, illegal mining, illegal logging, and crimes against ecosystems cause not only ecological damage but also impact public health, education, the economy, safety, and social life.

Through the UNRI LPPM Center for Police Studies, the Polri and the university aim to foster a collaborative space for developing studies, research, and evidence-based solutions that support the Green Policing approach.

According to the Deputy Polri Chief, the Center for Police Studies must serve as a bridge connecting academic knowledge with real-world issues on the ground, ensuring that research yields solutions relevant to the community.

“The Center for Police Studies must act as a bridge between knowledge and real-world challenges, while simultaneously strengthening collaboration to generate solutions that benefit the public,” the Deputy Polri Chief stated.

This approach is increasingly relevant for addressing environmental issues. Green policing goes beyond merely enforcing the law after environmental damage has occurred; it also promotes an approach that encompasses prevention, education, research, law enforcement, collaboration, and environmental restoration.

The Deputy Chief of the Polri also emphasized the importance of sustaining this network so that knowledge generated by universities can be translated into police policies and practices.

“Let us build an increasingly strong, open, and sustainable scholarly network, ensuring that the knowledge produced can be translated into police policies and practices that are increasingly professional and adaptive, while delivering tangible benefits to the community,” said the Deputy Chief.

Meanwhile, the Rector of the University of Riau (UNRI), Prof. Dr. Sri Indarti, S.E., M.Si., stated, that the inauguration of the Center for Environmental Policing Studies represents a concrete step toward combining academic strengths with the empirical experience of the police force.

“Dimensions such as security, the economy, education, environmental sustainability, democracy, technology, and law enforcement are closely intertwined in the pursuit of public welfare,” said Sri Indarti.

According to her, universities possess strengths in scholarly traditions, research, and intellectual capacity that can be combined with the empirical experience of the police to address various societal issues.

Through the Center for Environmental Policing Studies, UNRI and the Polri are expected to produce multidisciplinary studies and recommendations relevant to environmental issues in Riau.

Kapolda of Riau, Irjen Pol Herry Hermawan stated, that Riau Province possesses environmental issue characteristics that make the region a strategic space for developing Green Policing studies.

“Given the complexities surrounding forest and land fires, illegal mining, illegal logging, and threats to wildlife, Riau serves as a strategic laboratory for developing policing studies focused on environmental protection,” he said.

The Polda of Riau recorded that, throughout 2025–2026, they handled 119 police reports and named 131 suspects, with a total burned land area reaching 3.853,23 hectares.

According to Irjen Pol Herry, this data demonstrates that environmental issues require an approach that combines law enforcement with prevention and community protection.

“The impact of forest and land fires on health, education, the economy, and the social lives of the community underscores that environmental issues are ultimately also security matters that must be addressed collectively,” he said.

For this reason, the Environmental Police Studies Center under UNRI’s Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM)—inaugurated today—is expected to go beyond mere institutional establishment, it is hoped that it will evolve into a hub for research and collaboration that generates evidence-based recommendations. (Bembo)