High-ranking police officials quizzed Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome on everything from traffic to jet ski scams as they study Pattaya as part of a continuing-education course at the Royal Thai Police Academy.
The officers, who returned to school to take the Principles of Public Administration course, stopped in Pattaya July 27 as part of their nationwide tour to study administration of civil and law-enforcement issues.
Police committee members from the high-ranking officers administration course visit Pattaya’s Command & Control center.
Itthiphol answered questions on traffic, parking, waste disposal, marine pollution, and crimes against tourists.
The pollution issues, the mayor said, come from garbage flowing into Pattaya Bay from the Bangpakong River, as well as algae blooms that create “red tides.” While nothing can be done about the latter, Itthiphol said, the garbage problem is constantly being examined.
More directly related to police work, crimes against tourists encompass petty crimes, cheating businesses and jet ski scams.
The mayor admitted the city has been unable to control the problem, but said he’s asked for cooperation from the jet ski vendors’ association in hopes they’ll negotiate a resolution.
Following the Q&A session, the officers visited the city’s command and control room to observe operations, as well as a new watchtower built to monitor traffic and crime.
Academy deputy director Col. Sommai Kanchanapha said the course is aimed at improving the experiences of high-ranking officers and to teach them lessons they can implement in their home postings. Pattaya, with its large tourism industry, has been a beneficial example, he added.
