Phuket to get new police chief

PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Kongpol Suwannaraks has been promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police Region 8, based in Surat Thani, with effect from October 1. Gen Kongpol’s promotion was one of 202 police promotions and transfers recently approved by the Cabinet as part of the annual reshuffling of government employees. Gen Kongpol told the Gazette that he has been in and out of Phuket since 1976, most recently spending six years as Commander of Phuket Provincial Police. He added that he is confident his successor, Maj Gen Veerayuth Sitthimalic, is “a highly able officer who will do a fine job”. He would in any case brief him thoroughly on Phuket’s problems. Besides, he added, “Even though I am moving to Surat Thani, I will still be keeping an eye on Phuket because it is one of the seven provinces in Region 8.” Police Region 8 is responsible for Chumphon, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Surat Thani and Ranong. Gen Veerayuth, 53, was born in Bangkok and has been the Police Commander of Yala Province for the past year. He told the Gazette he was happy to be moving to the island. “Phuket is a livable place. There is lots of work to do there because it’s an outstanding province that enhances the prestige of Thailand.” He said that he was proud of what he had achieved in Yala, where local people had cooperated well with the police. He added that he was also proud to have been chosen to lead Phuket’s police. “I will do the best I can,” he added. “Although I have never lived in Phuket, I know some local people and police officers. I have always respected Gen Kongpol and will continue with the management methods he has employed.”