On October 7, the Prime Minister will chair a special meeting of the Police Commission (ก.ตร.) to propose the selection of the 15th national police chief, with expectations to put forth the name of Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panpetch, the senior-most candidate.
As of September 29, 2024, a notice has been circulated for the special meeting to take place in Meeting Room 1 of the police headquarters. The session will be led by Prime Minister Paethongtarn Shinawatra, alongside key police officials including Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panpetch, acting as the national police chief, and other senior police officers.
The proposal is likely to favor Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panpetch, who is recommended due to his seniority and effective continuation of government policies, particularly in combating drug problems and online fraud. This move is also aligned with the preferences expressed by various police experts in the commission.
Despite the absence of age-related criteria in the Police Act of 2022, there is an emphasis on selecting someone with the highest seniority, while also ensuring a clear rationale if going for someone with lower seniority, a situation that caused controversies in previous appointments.
Pol. Gen. Ek Aungsananont from the Police Commission highlighted that the upcoming appointment in 2024 will be the first under the new Police Act. The criteria will consider seniority, qualifications, investigation capabilities, and crime prevention efforts.
Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panpetch, nicknamed “Big Tai,” has a significant history in the police force, emerging through ranks from various positions in the police department, including as a regional police chief and in counter-narcotics operations.
This article was rewritten from a Thairath’s news article.
