Police superintendents reshuffled

PHUKET: In a nationwide reshuffle of 173 police deputy commissioners and superintendents, effective from next Monday, the three main police stations in Phuket – Phuket Town, Thalang and Kathu – will each get new bosses. The reshuffle was ordered by the country’s top police officer, Pol Gen Pornsak Durongkapiboon, Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police. Pol Col Chalit Tintanee, formerly superintendent of Phuket Town Police Station – who was recently seconded temporarily to Surat Thani – will move to Kathu Police Station. As reported in the Gazette (issue of May 15), Col Chalit was transferred to Surat in April, following raids on casinos in Phuket Town by the Bangkok-based Crime Suppression Division. Col Chalit told the Gazette today, “I just heard about the transfer this morning from someone who called me. I’ll have to spend time learning about the problems in Patong. I can’t comment any further until I have done that.” Meanwhile, the popular Pol Col Paween Pongsirin will move from Kathu to take over Phuket Town and, in a straight switch, Pol Col Chatchai Sakulporn, currently in charge of Thai Muang Police Station, will move to Thalang, while the current superintendent of Thalang, Pol Col Prapakorn Saksupa, will move to Thai Muang. Col Paween, who has been superintendent of Kathu Police Station for just seven months, but who has become popular for his forthright and honest style, told the Gazette that he had not yet received the transfer order, but had heard about the move a few days ago. Asked how he felt about the transfer, he said, “I can’t really say. I can move anywhere – that’s up to my superiors.” But, he added, “There are so many things I wanted to clear up in Patong; there were many things I planned to do, including improvements to the police station – I have already received the budget for that.” Asked whether he had any advice for Col Chalit, he said, “Oh, no. Col Chalit used to be my boss when I was in Phuket Town Police Station. He is proficient and has a lot of experience.”