Pattaya Police officers were lectured against bribe taking and reminded of their duties at a meeting with top regional law-enforcement officials.
Col. Suvichan Yankittikhun, deputy superintendent of Chonburi Police Station, and Pattaya Superintendent Col. Suwan Cheaonawinthawat also used the Aug. 23 assembly at the Town in Town hotel to present annual awards and scholarships to police families.
Suvichan told officers to place the needs of the public before their own and to work openly. He said provincial police officials had received many complaints about officers demanding bribes. Despite numerous warnings, the behavior has continued and legal cases are now being prepared against corrupt officers, he said.
Pattaya Superintendent Col. Suwan Cheaonawinthawat presents a citation to Sen. Sgt. Maj. Jinna Son-unn, a traffic officer cited for ethical and moral behavior.
Suwan echoed the admonitions against bribe-taking, singling out officers who man the city’s many roadside checkpoints. He said police should not take cash in exchange for not arresting or ticketing offenders. Traffic police, likewise, should always write tickets when encountering drivers violating parking laws or buses dropping off passengers illegally.
He also reminded officers of arguably obvious responsibilities to patrol banks, gold shops and foreign exchange booths and to not drink or hang out in bars while on the clock.
Any officers found to be violating the law or shirking their duties would be shipped off to the Koh Larn substation, Suwan said.
The police chief wrapped up the meeting with plaque presentations to Sen. Sgt. Maj. Jinna Son-unn, a traffic officer cited for ethical and moral behavior. Thirty children of police officers were also given 1,000 baht scholarships.
