Strategi Manajemen Isu Satuan Brimob Bengkulu Dalam Meredam Situasi Menjelang Pilkada 2024

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the issue management strategies implemented by the Bengkulu Mobile Brigade Unit (Brimob) in responding to potential security disturbances ahead of the 2024 Regional Election (Pilkada). The research employed a qualitative descriptive method with data collected through interviews with five informants—including the unit commander, public information officers, and security personnel—and field observations. The findings reveal that Brimob Bengkulu systematically applied the six stages of Chase and Jones’s (1979) Issue Management model: issue identification, evaluation, development of control alternatives, selection of the best action, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. The study highlights Brimob’s proactive monitoring of social media, close coordination with Bawaslu and KPU, and the use of strategic public communication for counter-narratives. Intelligence-driven pre-emptive approaches were found to be essential in preventing conflict escalation. Overall, Brimob Bengkulu’s strategies played a significant role in maintaining a conducive environment and strengthening public trust throughout the 2024 Pilkada stages.