He was well known for his constant acts and efforts to eradicate corruption and power play in Indonesian policing and promote equal criminal justice.

[3] Hoegeng wanted to be a policeman because he was influenced by his father's friend Ating Natadikusumah, who was the chief of police in his hometown.

He then enrolled at Meer Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs (MULO; middle school) in the same town and graduated three years later.

While at AMS, Hoegeng befriended his senior Burhanuddin Harahap, his classmate Soedarpo Sastrosatomo, and his juniors Usmar Ismail and Rosihan Anwar.

In 1940, after graduating, he moved to Batavia to continue his studies at Recht Hoge School (RHS; law college), although some of his family members wanted him to enroll at Middlebare Opleiding School Voor Inlandsche Ambtenaren (MOSVIA; civil service college).

In the organization, he met Soebadio Sastrosatomo, Subandrio, Oemar Senoadji, Chairul Saleh, and Hamid Algadrie.

Hoegeng then returned home in April; he used his free time to sell eggs and Japanese school books traveling from one city to another including Pati and Semarang with his friend Soehardjo Soerjobroto.

Hoegeng originally felt disappointed as he found out that the output of the course was not for high-ranking officers (second inspector), but two ranks lower.

His colleagues, the trainers, and fellow cadets, later became prominent high-ranking officers including Soemarto, Soehardjo Soerjobroto, Soerojo, and Soedjono Partokoesoemo.

They protested heavily the decision until General Kumakichi Harada of the Sixteenth Army visited the place to calm them down.

In 1944, Hoegeng graduated and with his three friends, Soetrisno, Noto Darsono, and Soenarto were assigned to Chiang Bu (security department) of Semarang.

Shortly before the Japanese surrender to Allied forces, Hoegeng was reassigned to Keibi Ka Cho (custody division) under the leadership of R. Soekarno Djojonegoro and was promoted again.

Under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Darwis, Commander of Navy Base in Tegal, his first duty was to formulate the basic foundation of the military police which was, at the beginning, named Penyelidik Militer Laut Khusus (PMLC; special navy investigator) unit.

In Yogyakarta, Hoegeng had another activity as a main character of a radio play Saija dan Adinda broadcast by Angkatan Laoet, Darat, dan Oedara radio (ALDO; navy, land, and air forces) and RRI Yogyakarta.

[12][13][14] After rejoining, Hoegeng was listed as a student of Akademi Kepolisian (Police Academy) in Mertoyudan, Magelang.

In Jakarta, Hoegeng met Soemarto who was a deputy chief police at that time, and was asked to be the latter's subordinate.

In November, Hoegeng worked as Soemarto's assistant and was given the duty to observe Indonesian political prisoners and help them if possible.