DENPASAR, BALINEWS – For some police officers, a career in law enforcement takes them far from their hometowns. For Commissioner of Police I Wayan Winaya, S.I.K., M.H., however, decades of service across Indonesia have brought him back to where his journey began: Bali.
Born in 1979 and raised in Sanur, Denpasar, Winaya has built an extensive career in the Indonesian National Police (Polri), serving in various regions, including Sulawesi, Maluku, Papua, Java, and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).
Today, he has returned to his homeland to take on a new responsibility as Chief of the Denpasar Metropolitan Police (Kapolresta Denpasar), under the Bali Regional Police (Polda Bali).
His professional journey and personal experiences became the focus of a monthly discussion organized by the Bali chapter of the Online Journalists Association (Ikatan Wartawan Online/IWO) under its #NgopiSantuy program on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
Held in a relaxed atmosphere at a modest coffee shop in Denpasar, the discussion provided an opportunity for Winaya to share stories about his family background, education, professional assignments, leadership philosophy, and views on communication between the police and the media.
From Sanur to a National Career in Law Enforcement
Winaya began his formal education in Bali, attending SD Negeri 6 Sanur for elementary school and SMP Negeri 9 Denpasar for junior high school.
After completing his secondary education, he chose a career in law enforcement by enrolling at the Indonesian Police Academy (Akademi Kepolisian/Akpol), graduating in 2001.
He subsequently continued his professional education at the Police Science College (Perguruan Tinggi Ilmu Kepolisian/PTIK). In 2007, he also attended an international police training program in Vicenza, Italy.
His academic qualifications include a Bachelor's degree in Police Science (S.I.K.) and a Master's degree in Law (M.H.).
Beyond his professional responsibilities, Winaya is also a family man. He is married to a woman from Bojonegoro, East Java, and they have two children, born in 2005 and 2009.
Early Career: From Mobile Brigade Duties to Maluku and Papua
Winaya began his police career after graduating from the Police Academy in 2001, with his first assignment in the Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob) of the South Sulawesi Regional Police, based in the Pa'baeng-baeng area of Makassar.
During his service with Brimob from 2001 to 2006, he gained valuable field experience through assignments in several regions with different security challenges.
In 2003, he was assigned to North Maluku. A year later, in 2004, he participated in security operations related to inter-ethnic conflict and unrest in Timika, Papua.
These early assignments played an important role in shaping his professional character, particularly in developing adaptability, communication skills, and the ability to coordinate with fellow officers in challenging situations.
Winaya believes that police officers must be prepared to deal with a wide range of social issues and public security challenges.
He compares the police profession to a general medical practitioner rather than a specialist, emphasizing that officers must possess broad capabilities to respond to different situations and community needs.
Building Experience in Criminal Investigation and Public Relations
Following his initial assignments with Brimob, Winaya continued his education at PTIK before developing his career in several regions, particularly East Java, Central Java, and Jakarta.
Criminal investigation became one of the major areas of his professional experience.
Throughout his career, he held several strategic positions, including:
Head of Criminal Investigation at Surabaya Metropolitan Police.
Head of Criminal Investigation at Kediri Police in Pare.
Deputy Head of Narcotics Investigation at Surabaya Metropolitan Police.
Head of Sub-Directorate I at the East Java Regional Police Narcotics Investigation Directorate.
Head of the Law Enforcement Sub-Directorate at the East Java Regional Police Water and Air Police Directorate.
In 2019, he served as Head of Sub-Directorate I of the East Java Regional Police Narcotics Investigation Directorate.
His career continued to advance when he was appointed Chief of Ngawi Police, serving from 2020 to 2022.
One of the notable challenges during his leadership in Ngawi was overseeing traffic restrictions and checkpoints during the Emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM Darurat), implemented as part of the government's efforts to control the spread of COVID-19.
His management of the checkpoint operations received recognition from the President Director of PT Jasa Marga, particularly in connection with operations at the Ngawi Toll Road Exit.
He later moved to the National Police Headquarters (Mabes Polri), where he took on responsibilities within the Public Relations Division.
This assignment broadened his experience in public communication, information management, and strengthening institutional relations between the police, the media, and the wider community.
His dedication and performance also received appreciation from the Head of the National Police Public Relations Division.
In mid-2024, he was promoted through the regular promotion process to the rank of Police Commissioner (Kombes Pol).
From West Nusa Tenggara to Securing the Mandalika MotoGP
Winaya's career subsequently brought him to West Nusa Tenggara, where he served as Director of Vital Object Security (Dirpamobvit) at the NTB Regional Police from 2025 to 2026.
One of his significant assignments during this period was overseeing security preparations for the internationally recognized 2026 Mandalika MotoGP event.
Securing an international motorsport event requires extensive preparation, cross-sector coordination, and the readiness of personnel to respond to various potential security challenges.
During the discussion with IWO Bali, Winaya explained that security preparations for MotoGP were not carried out at the last minute. Coordination meetings and operational planning began approximately three months before the event.
Senior police officials were also directly involved in monitoring preparations to ensure that every stage, from planning to implementation, proceeded according to schedule.
An interesting moment occurred when Winaya received his official transfer order to become Chief of Denpasar Metropolitan Police while he was monitoring the MotoGP activities in Mandalika.
For him, the assignment represented more than just another career advancement. It was an opportunity to return to his birthplace and serve the community where he grew up.
When asked how he felt upon receiving the appointment, he expressed gratitude.
With a relaxed smile, he used the familiar Javanese expression "Alhamdulillah," while acknowledging that the Balinese expression "Astungkara" conveys a similar sense of gratitude.
Returning to Bali as Chief of Denpasar Metropolitan Police
On October 10, 2026, Winaya was officially appointed Chief of Denpasar Metropolitan Police (Kapolresta Denpasar), succeeding Commissioner of Police Leonardo David Simatupang, S.I.K., M.H.
Simatupang was subsequently assigned as a Senior Internal Security Investigator at the Police Internal Affairs Division (Divpropam Polri).
Before his new appointment, Winaya served as Director of Vital Object Security at the NTB Regional Police.
His return to Bali marks a significant new chapter in a career shaped by assignments across different parts of Indonesia.
For Winaya, serving in Bali does not necessarily mean facing entirely unfamiliar challenges. His experience in different regions has provided him with valuable insight into diverse community characteristics, cultural backgrounds, and social dynamics.
He also emphasized that effective leadership requires the ability to manage human resources and establish strong communication with different elements of society.
Leadership Is More Than Giving Orders
One of the key topics discussed during the #NgopiSantuy session was Winaya's perspective on leadership within the police institution.
According to him, a police leader must do more than understand a problem. Effective leadership also involves organizing personnel, assigning officers according to operational needs, and establishing communication with relevant stakeholders.
He illustrated this approach by referring to situations involving fuel shortages within the Pertamina distribution environment.
In such circumstances, he explained, simply increasing the number of police personnel is not necessarily the best solution. What matters more is assigning officers strategically and ensuring effective communication with village heads, local administrative officials, and community representatives.
He also highlighted Bali's distinctive social structure, particularly the relationship between traditional villages (desa adat) and administrative villages (desa dinas), both of which play important roles in community life.
Understanding these local structures is essential for building effective coordination and resolving issues within the community.
For Winaya, successful problem-solving depends not only on operational readiness but also on a leader's ability to mobilize personnel and maintain constructive relationships with stakeholders.
Strengthening Two-Way Communication Between the Police and the Media
His previous experience within the National Police Public Relations Division has also shaped Winaya's appreciation of the relationship between law enforcement institutions and journalists.
During the discussion, participants explored several issues, including news coverage, information accuracy, and the challenges of maintaining positive and constructive public communication in the digital era.
The relationship between the police and the media, he suggested, should be built on openness, mutual understanding, and effective communication.
The media plays an essential role in delivering information to the public, while the police have a responsibility to ensure that information concerning public safety, security operations, and law enforcement activities is communicated clearly and accurately.
Two-way communication is therefore crucial to preventing misunderstandings and building public trust.
For journalists, forums such as #NgopiSantuy also provide valuable opportunities to obtain information directly from relevant sources, raise critical questions, and convey public concerns.
#NgopiSantuy: Creating a Space for Dialogue in Bali
The meeting with Denpasar Metropolitan Police Chief I Wayan Winaya was part of the monthly #NgopiSantuy program initiated by the Bali chapter of the Online Journalists Association (IWO), led by its provincial chairperson, Tri Widiyanti.
The program is designed as an open discussion platform connecting journalists with public figures, government officials, and other stakeholders across Bali.
The event was attended by the Chairperson of the Denpasar City IWO chapter and its members, representatives of the Badung Regency IWO chapter, as well as the provincial board and members of IWO Bali.
Although the discussion took place in a relaxed coffee-shop setting, the conversation addressed important issues concerning development, public security, public services, and the interests of the Balinese community.
Through this initiative, IWO Bali hopes to encourage more open communication between journalists and policymakers.
The forum is also expected to serve as a bridge through which journalists can convey public concerns while obtaining accurate information directly from competent sources.
From Sanur, With a Commitment to Serve
From his early days in Sanur to assignments across Indonesia, the professional journey of Commissioner of Police I Wayan Winaya reflects years of service, adaptation, and responsibility.
His experience in the Mobile Brigade Corps, criminal investigation, public relations, and vital object security has shaped the officer who now leads the Denpasar Metropolitan Police.
His return to Bali is not simply a homecoming. It represents a new responsibility to serve the people of his birthplace, bringing with him the knowledge and experience gained throughout his career.
Through a simple yet meaningful conversation over coffee with IWO Bali, participants had the opportunity to see another side of the city's police chief—not merely the official behind the rank and position, but also the person behind the uniform, his professional journey, and his thoughts on leadership, communication, and public service.
From Sanur to the wider world of public service, Winaya's journey has come full circle. Now, his next chapter of service begins at home, in Denpasar.
