Top cop champions 'back to basics'

Top cop champions 'back to basics'

New chief is focusing on service at police stations

"Roeng phak (police station) development is the heart of my policy here... All police work begins and ends at the roeng phak," said Pol Lt Gen Phukphong Phongpetra, new city police chief. (Photo by Wassayos Ngamkham)

Pol Lt Gen Phukphong Phongpetra, the newly appointed chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, is known for his experience in handling emergency situations such as political protests and bomb attacks as well as cooperating with the military on national security in the deep South.

Yet, his "Back to Basics" policy for the Metropolitan Police Bureau focuses on improving the performance of local police stations.

"Roeng phak [police station] development is the heart of my policy here. Roeng phak are the first point where police meet people. All police work begins and ends at the roeng phak," Pol Lt Gen Phukphong told the Bangkok Post.

Currently, there are 88 police stations across the capital city, and each has 30-200 police officers attached to it.

"These roeng phak are not just workplaces but the first spot where people come to seek help or protection from police and, in my opinion, they could be transformed into a platform where people and police can cooperate and cultivate new networks for crime protection and community safety," he said.

Pol Lt Gen Phukphong was appointed to the top post at Metropolitan Police Bureau on Oct 1.

He had previously worked in various departments. However, he told the Bangkok Post that reaching the force's top office has never been his dream. He said he had only ever wanted to be a tamruaj roeng phak (an officer working at a station) in his home town in Surat Thani province, in the southern part of the country.

His passion for a "simple tamruaj roeng phak life" might suggest he comes from a police family. On the contrary, his career choice is driven by passion and at first glance not in keeping with his upbringing.

Pol Lt Gen Phukphong was brought up in a wealthy family in Surat Thani known for running big businesses including palm oil plantations, a mine and a rock quarry.

"Everyone in my family but me wants to work in the family businesses. I have seen and been associated with businessmen since I was born. So, [maybe that's why] I wanted to be an official and serve the country [instead]."

After graduating from Assumption School (Sri Racha campus), a prestigious boarding school for boys in Chon Buri province, he enrolled in the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School. There, he was forced to weigh up two potential careers -- soldier or policeman. He chose the latter and continued his education at the Police Cadet School.

"Both careers serve the country, but I decided to be a policeman because they're closer to the people than soldiers," he said.

He started his career as an officer at Muang police station in his home province of Surat Thani where he quickly realised he had made the right choice.

After fulfilling his dream of working at a station, Pol Lt Gen Phukphong spent several years in the "Korakot Operations" task force.

This was a team brought together by his former boss Pol Gen Chumphon Atthasart, who was then in charge of Provincial Police Region 3 which oversees northern provinces, to handle crisis situations such as political protests, terrorism, hostage situations and even natural disasters.

After impressing his superiors, Pol Lt Gen Phukphong was transferred to work on special operations in the southern region.

In 2009, he was put in charge of the Protection and Crowd Control Division, which was then newly established under the Metropolitan Police Bureau to handle the street rallies and political protests that had become part of daily life in the capital at that time.

He faced many mobs both inside and outside the capital, including the riot sparked by the pro-Thaksin red-shirt group in Pattaya which forced the shutdown of Asean Summit in the coastal city that year.

During this time he worked closely with soldiers which saw his career become intertwined with the power games between the pro-Thaksin political camp and the military clique.

After the red-shirt rally ended and the political situation returned to normal, Pol Lt Gen Phukphong was promoted to chief of Metropolitan Police Division 9, which oversees parts of Thon Buri, west of the Chao Phraya River. The position allowed him to get closer to the officers on the ground again as there were 10 police stations under his jurisdiction.

But when the Pheu Thai Party rose to power, his job suddenly changed. He was transferred to an inactive post by the Yingluck Shinawatra government.

"My boss probably had his own reason [behind the transfer] and he didn't need to tell me," Pol Lt Gen Phukphong said, adding he did not question his swift transfer.

"As long as an order is legitimate, I will follow the order."

In 2014, after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha staged a coup to topple the Pheu Thai-led administration, he was given an opportunity to work in an active role again, this time as a deputy city police chief.

Under the military-appointed government, Pol Lt Gen Phukphong played a key role in national security issues, including investigating the bombing of the Erawan shrine in 2015 in Bangkok.

Four years later, he has now assumed the city police's top job. The role, he said, would give him the opportunity to improve the police stations in Bangkok.

Pol Lt Gen Phukphong said his "Back to Basics" policy is as simple as it sounds. "I just want tamruaj roeng phak to do their best to help people.

"Every officer knows well that city problems can't be solved without cooperation from the people," he said.

"Local people can be the eyes and ears of the police and help them look out for irregularities. People must play an important role in crime prevention."

His first priority is for stations and their officers to establish rapport and better communication channels with those in their neighbourhoods.

"Police need to listen to their [local peoples'] problems before making a judgement about what is right or wrong. We need to cooperate with people."

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