At a few months old, Soekanto and his parents left Bogor and moved to Balaraja, Serang, after Martomihardjo was appointed as a wedana.

[3] While studying at Rechtshoogeschool te Batavia in 1928, Soekanto became acquainted with Jong Java and nationalist figures, Sartono and Iwa Kusumasumantri, discussing the struggle for Indonesian independence.

[4] In 1930, Soekanto was accepted as a student of Aspirant Commisaris van Politie, graduating in 1933 and receiving the rank of Police Commissioner class III.

Soekanto was appointed by President Sukarno as the Chief of the Indonesian National Police, taking over responsibility from the Hoofd van de Dienst der Algemene Politie.

[2] On 8 August 1973, During the New Order government he was appointed by President Suharto to the Supreme Advisory Council as Head of the People's Welfare Section until he was honourably discharged on 23 March 1978.