Police chiefs too keen on taking the glory

As

calls for police reform mount, with the main focus on “liberating” the police from political interference, Thai Rath columnist Sahabaat suggests the main problem actually lies with police themselves, especially those with the power to award or punish their subordinates.

Writing in the Song Tamruat column yesterday, the writer cited the merit system in the police annual reshuffle, saying if police bosses strictly embrace the system and refrain from cronyism, the force will be better off.

However, he said most police chiefs rarely care for their subordinates, or rarely ask how they and their families manage to make a living.

The writer said he longed for the day when police would get paid as much as public prosecutors or officials from the Department of Special Investigation.

Budget cuts mean police are short of the funds they need for proper investigative work, said Sahabaat. They are forced to turn to “grey” money — money illegally earned — to fund criminal investigations.

If the investigation leads to the arrest of the culprits, it is always the “bosses” who take the credit when they show up before the media to announce the arrests.

Some police are full of ideology after graduation, but quickly abandon those grand ideas in pursuit of a career path and financial fortune, he said.

KHUNTON THANARAK An officer manages traffic on a bustling street. Some people believe that policemen should get higher pay to avoid the risk they will resort to “grey money”.

Sakolthee Phattiyakul, a former co-leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee, criticises Thammasat students for their political parade and flash-card display.