Deputy national police chief Suwat Chaengyodsuk has been picked to succeed Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda, who will retire at the end of next month.
Deputy police chief Pol Gen Suwat Chaengyodsuk, far left, is spotted after the meeting of the National Police Policy Board that chose him to succeed Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda, front left, as the national police chief. The appointment takes effect on Oct 1. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)
The National Police Policy Board, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, agreed unanimously yesterday to promote Pol Gen Suwat to the top job at the Royal Thai Police (RTP), effective from Oct 1.
The promotion will be made official once it receives royal endorsement after the prime minister submits the name to His Majesty the King. Police spokesman Pol Lt Gen Piya Uthayo confirmed the selection after the board meeting at Government House.
The decision was no surprise as the deputy chief had been strongly tipped to be Pol Gen Chakthip's successor. Sources said Pol Gen Suchart Theerasawat was seen as a possible contender, but he was viewed as a dark horse.
Pol Gen Suwat was in the same class (Class 20) at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School as army chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong and attended the Royal Police Cadet Academy in the same class (Class 36) as Pol Gen Chakthip.
He used to be a deputy chief of the RTP's strategic office in 2014, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau in 2016, before taking the post of deputy chief of the Special Branch Police in 2017.
He commanded Provincial Police Region 1, which covers the central provinces excluding Bangkok, for one year before moving to police headquarters as an assistant to the police chief in 2018 and his present position last year.
He was recognised for being the chief of the investigating team that probed seven bomb and arson attacks last August which included blasts at Chong Nonsi BTS station near the King Power Mahanakhon building, the Government Complex on Chaeng Watthana Road, the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters and the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence in Nonthaburi's Pak Kret district.
Pol Lt Gen Piya said the board yesterday decided on the reshuffle of 258 positions within the RTP.