Pol. Col. Supathee
Bungkhrong said he was dispatched to Pattaya to clean up the force.
Teerarak Suthathiwong
The military-appointed police chief for the eastern region is
calling for a cleanup of the Pattaya Police force.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Sanit Mahataworn, the former chief of the Office of
Police Commission, replaced Royal Thai Police Region 2 commander Kawee
Supanan May 29 in a nationwide reshuffle by the National Council for
Peace and Order. That same shakeup also saw Pattaya Police
Superintendent Pol. Col. Supachai Puikaewkam removed from office.
His temporary replacement, Region 2 deputy commander Pol. Col. Supathee
Bungkhrong, said he was dispatched to Pattaya to clean up the force.
Pol. Col. Supathee handed down a number of edicts from the new Region 2
boss focusing on better serving tourists. Firstly, he said, officers
must immediately tackle any tourist-related case, work it cleanly and be
firm against criminals.
Investigating officers also must speak kindly to the public and be quick
to the scene, he said.
Pol. Col. Supathee said traffic police should “focus on serving the
public”. Their job, the commander said, is to control traffic.
If high-ranking Region 2 officers arrive in Pattaya again to find
terrible traffic, responsible officers will be punished, he threatened.
Pattaya officers also will face sanction if police from another
jurisdiction raid or make arrests at an illegal casino or horse-betting
parlor in the Pattaya Police Station coverage area.
Lastly, Supathee said, officers should be out working in their assigned
areas and not show up at the station unless necessary.
