PHUKET'S Police Chief, Major General Apirak Hongtong, is leaving the island's top post and returning to Ranong, Phuketwan can reveal.
While the paperwork has yet to be formalised, it is understood that a senior Bangkok police officer will come to Phuket to replace him.
Major General Apirak returned to Phuket from Ranong halfway through 2008 and immediately made his presence felt by promising to pursue ''zero crime'' as assiduously as he chased wrong-doers.
''Within three months, I want to see crime dramatically reduced,'' he said at the time. ''I want to be able to put up a billboard saying: Phuket is crime free.''
That did not quite happen, although there were plenty of new and often empty billboards.
But the major general did score some major victories, taking charge of the island's major Tat Chat Chai checkpoint, improving security there.
He was also heavily involved in plans to prevent a second blockade of Phuket International Airport after the first three-day takeover in August.
Phuketwan reporters visited the airport and found a sizeable number of officers secreted in a quiet corner, just in case.
Always aware of the value of publicity, Major General Apirak gave out his mobile telephone number so that anyone could call Phuket's Police Chief if there was something they thought he should know.
He was extremely approachable, prepared to sit down and talk to reporters in an open fashion in a way that some of his predecessors never did.
He used his minimum-number force well, adding volunteers to boost its effectiveness.
He brought in some trusted subordinates from Ranong, shuffling those on the island who failed to meet his standards.
He also presided over the force in a year in which the road toll dropped dramatically, saving scores of lives, and he dreamed of more effective measures of policing.
These included more helicopters, police on bicycles and 500 CCTV cameras.
He warned about the potential increase in crime that could be driven by an economic downturn . . and that will certainly be the case without him on Phuket in 2009.
Major General Apirat was chief of police before resigning to contest an election for the Thai Rak Thai party, then returned on losing the election to the force and a new role in Ranong.
In the six months that followed in Ranong, he said, ''we reduced crime to zero. I plan to try to do the same on Phuket.''
Sun, sand and sea were Phuket's big attractions. But there were two more ''sses'' required: security and service, the general added.
Less significantly but perhaps more memorably for those who were there, he sang a mean karaoke song at a new year get-together with the media.
He wanted people to have a greater understanding of why police need to uphold the law.
''People should be content to have the law imposed, not expect breaches to be overlooked,'' the major general said.
In perhaps a fitting tribute, he was selected among the country's Top 10 policemen just a short time before his impending departure.
''Now I will be chasing Rohingya in Ranong,'' he is said to have joked to a colleague on hearing news of his coming transfer.
Phuket Police Praised by Region's Top Cop
Guns and Roses Album Tourist protection is a priority on Phuket, the region's senior police officer says. Illegal guns and drugs have been a feature of 2009. The hunt for the Farang killer continues.
Phuket Police Praised by Region's Top Cop
Phuket Crime: What the Police Chief Plans
Update With limited funds, Phuket's police have to cope with all kinds of criminals. The chief of police hopes a mixture of volunteers and professionals can beat future 7 Eleven robber rapists.
Phuket Crime: What the Police Chief Plans
Comeback Police Chief Promises Crime Free Phuket
End crime on Phuket? It's a bold thing to say but Phuket's new police chief knows the island and says he tamed crime in the province of Ranong in just six months.
Comeback Police Chief Promises Crime Free Phuket
While the paperwork has yet to be formalised, it is understood that a senior Bangkok police officer will come to Phuket to replace him.
Major General Apirak returned to Phuket from Ranong halfway through 2008 and immediately made his presence felt by promising to pursue ''zero crime'' as assiduously as he chased wrong-doers.
''Within three months, I want to see crime dramatically reduced,'' he said at the time. ''I want to be able to put up a billboard saying: Phuket is crime free.''
That did not quite happen, although there were plenty of new and often empty billboards.
But the major general did score some major victories, taking charge of the island's major Tat Chat Chai checkpoint, improving security there.
He was also heavily involved in plans to prevent a second blockade of Phuket International Airport after the first three-day takeover in August.
Phuketwan reporters visited the airport and found a sizeable number of officers secreted in a quiet corner, just in case.
Always aware of the value of publicity, Major General Apirak gave out his mobile telephone number so that anyone could call Phuket's Police Chief if there was something they thought he should know.
He was extremely approachable, prepared to sit down and talk to reporters in an open fashion in a way that some of his predecessors never did.
He used his minimum-number force well, adding volunteers to boost its effectiveness.
He brought in some trusted subordinates from Ranong, shuffling those on the island who failed to meet his standards.
He also presided over the force in a year in which the road toll dropped dramatically, saving scores of lives, and he dreamed of more effective measures of policing.
These included more helicopters, police on bicycles and 500 CCTV cameras.
He warned about the potential increase in crime that could be driven by an economic downturn . . and that will certainly be the case without him on Phuket in 2009.
Major General Apirat was chief of police before resigning to contest an election for the Thai Rak Thai party, then returned on losing the election to the force and a new role in Ranong.
In the six months that followed in Ranong, he said, ''we reduced crime to zero. I plan to try to do the same on Phuket.''
Sun, sand and sea were Phuket's big attractions. But there were two more ''sses'' required: security and service, the general added.
Less significantly but perhaps more memorably for those who were there, he sang a mean karaoke song at a new year get-together with the media.
He wanted people to have a greater understanding of why police need to uphold the law.
''People should be content to have the law imposed, not expect breaches to be overlooked,'' the major general said.
In perhaps a fitting tribute, he was selected among the country's Top 10 policemen just a short time before his impending departure.
''Now I will be chasing Rohingya in Ranong,'' he is said to have joked to a colleague on hearing news of his coming transfer.
Phuket Police Praised by Region's Top Cop
Guns and Roses Album Tourist protection is a priority on Phuket, the region's senior police officer says. Illegal guns and drugs have been a feature of 2009. The hunt for the Farang killer continues.
Phuket Police Praised by Region's Top Cop
Phuket Crime: What the Police Chief Plans
Update With limited funds, Phuket's police have to cope with all kinds of criminals. The chief of police hopes a mixture of volunteers and professionals can beat future 7 Eleven robber rapists.
Phuket Crime: What the Police Chief Plans
Comeback Police Chief Promises Crime Free Phuket
End crime on Phuket? It's a bold thing to say but Phuket's new police chief knows the island and says he tamed crime in the province of Ranong in just six months.
Comeback Police Chief Promises Crime Free Phuket
Does the transfer of K Apirak have anything to do with the police enforced closings of all the bars in Patong at 0200 (horrors!)? What will the new guy do?
Editor: We have no reason to believe those events are connected. No official word yet on the new police chief.
Posted by Patong Ken on February 9, 2009 09:37