Major Aroon Promphan addresses PCEC meeting

(L to R) MC Judith Edmonds calls on member “Hawaii” Bob Sutterfield who is also a Tourist Police Assistance volunteer, to introduce the Club’s very special guest, Major Aroon Promphan, Tourist Police Inspector.

On October 31, Master of Ceremonies Judith Edmonds welcomed everyone to the Amari Resort’s Tavern by the Sea Restaurant for the regular Sunday meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club. After the usual opening announcements, Judith called on member “Hawaii” Bob Sutterfield who is also a tourist police assistance volunteer, to introduce the Club’s very special guest, Major Aroon Promphan, Tourist Police Inspector. Major Aroon is the Chief of the Tourist Police in Pattaya.

After the introduction, Major Aroon began by briefly discussing his education and career. He received his higher education in London, England obtaining his BA in Business Management and Marketing from the American College and his MBA in International Business Management from Schiller International University. He also holds a BA in Law from Bangkok’s Sripratum University.

Major Aroon Promphan, Tourist Police Inspector, provides PCEC members with some of the history of the Pattaya Tourist Police and the volunteers, and the work they do.

He mentioned that after returning to Thailand, he did not immediately join the police force. Instead, he went to work for Sahaviriya Telecom Co., Ltd., rising to the position of senior manager during his 10 years with them. He then joined the Royal Thai Police and has been a police officer for the past 14 years.

He started his police career in the Economic Crime Division whose responsibility it was to investigate the manufacture and sale of fake goods. After that, he worked the next 4 years directly for then Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai. During the last two months of that assignment, he said he traveled to all 76 provinces in Thailand. He then was assigned to work with the Commander of the Forestry Police, which has nationwide responsibility to investigate for illegal land encroachment. He then moved on to the Tourist Police and is currently based here in Pattaya.

Major Aroon said the Tourist Police were formed in 1976. At that time, the Pattaya station had about 200 officers responsible for 26 provinces. Today, after restructuring in 2005, it has about 40 officers responsible for 3 provinces (Chonburi, Chachoengsao, and Samut Prakan). At present he spends most of his time in these 3 provinces or Bangkok. Also in 2005, the Tourist Police moved into their new facilities on Pratamnak Hill, which he said has a nice view, but is a bit far from the main tourist areas.

At this point, Major Aroon said he would open it up for questions as he felt it better to inform the attendees on matters that were of interest to them. In answering the question about what is their biggest problem in dealing with tourists, he said it was language. Although all Tourist Police officers are required to speak a reasonable amount of English, not all tourists speak that language. Pattaya receives many tourists from China, Korea, India, and Russia; many who do not speak either English or Thai.

As to the function of the Tourist Police, Major Aroon said that although they have the same powers of arrest as Pattaya Police officers, their responsibility is more to assist tourists. When they do have to make an arrest, they often deliver the person to the Soi 9 Police Station for further action, but if deemed necessary they can take them to the Pratamnak Station for further investigation and processing.

He said they try to work closely with police officers from the Soi 9 station because they have more resources; 500 officers compared to his 40. He said that his officers work more to assist tourists if they should have problems. For example, if a tourist is accused of damaging property, they try to negotiate a settlement between the parties rather than have to arrest someone. He suggested that if any foreigner had a problem or dispute with a Thai businessman or person, they should contact his office instead of calling in the local police as is often done. If they, the Tourist Police, are first on the scene, then there is a better chance for their bilingual officer to resolve the problem.

As for the tourist police assistance volunteers, Major Aroon said they are invaluable in helping him and his men; but, they are not police officers and do not have powers of arrest. However, if a Tourist Police officer or other police officer is on the scene, they can follow the officer’s directions, such as handcuffing someone being arrested.

At Major Aroon’s invitation, member “Hawaii” Bob described some of his duties and experience as an assistance volunteer. In answer to what are the basic requirements to be a tourist police assistance volunteer, Major Aroon said it is primarily that they have a desire to help others and that they must have a one year permission to stay in Thailand from Thai Immigration (commonly referred to as a one year visa). Further, all volunteers are subjected to a background review through Bangkok police headquarters and Interpol. They should also be able to speak Thai to some degree. What is most needed at the moment are people who have the ability to speak another foreign language besides English.

In conclusion, Major Aroon provided contact numbers. The general number for the Tourist Police is 1155. You can also call 038-410-044 or his number 081-648-6886. He also provided his email address, which is [email protected].

The meeting concluded with Judith bringing everyone up to date on upcoming general and club events. She then called on Les Edmonds to conduct the always informative and sometimes humorous Open Forum, where questions about living in Thailand and Pattaya in particular are asked and answered.