Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin yesterday thanked outgoing prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for postponing the selection of the new police chief until the inauguration of the new government for the sake of appropriateness.
“I have to thank Gen Prayut for giving me the honour,” Mr Srettha said, saying the Police Commission under the new government will call a meeting to select the new police chief after the swearing-in of new cabinet members.
Mr Srettha spoke on the matter after learning the selection of the new police chief had been postponed.
Royal Thai Police (RTP) spokesman Pol Lt Gen Achayon Kraithong said the decision was made during a meeting of the Police Commission, chaired by Gen Prayut, at RTP headquarters yesterday.
The agenda included the selection of a new RTP commissioner-general to replace Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas, who is set to retire at the end of September. The meeting also discussed the selection of deputy police chiefs, the police inspector-general and commanders of all police divisions.
According to Pol Lt Gen Achayon, the meeting agreed to postpone the selection of the new police chief in line with the principles of good governance.
Pol Gen Damrongsak was assigned to chair the meeting to select deputy police chiefs and other positions.
On reports that Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol, a deputy police chief, is the frontrunner for the top police post, Pol Lt Gen Achayon declined to reply, saying that this matter should be left for the new prime minister to decide.
A source also said that Pol Lt Gen Ittipon Ittisanronnachai, Provincial Police Region (PPR) 2 commissioner, will be appointed the new Immigration Bureau chief, while Pol Lt Gen Thiti Saengsawang would stay put as Metropolitan Police Bureau commissioner.
Among other changes, the source said that Pol Lt Gen Surapon Prembut would be promoted from deputy to commissioner of PPR1, while Pol Lt Gen Nithithorn Chintakanon, commissioner of the Royal Thai Police’s national police chief office, was put forward to take on the top position at PPR2.
Pol Lt Gen Udon Yomcharoen will become the new head of the Tourist Police, and Pol Maj Gen Yongkiat Monpraneet will be promoted to become the new commander of the Border Patrol Police, the source added.