Watch the police general appointment list: Will it be based on outstanding achievements or patronage? The latest reveal highlights "Nopasin" addressing transnational crime, while "Big Tao" still has a chance to secure an important seat. Complaints about unfair appointments are expected to continue.
On 23 Aug 2023 GMT+7 at 10:00 a.m., Police General Kittirat Phanpetch, Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, chaired the board responsible for reviewing appointments of police officers at the Royal Thai Police level, known as the "screening board," selecting officers from Assistant Commissioner to Provincial Police Commander nationwide.
Police General Ek Angsanannot, former Police Commission member, analyzed the latest appointment list, explaining that current police general appointments undergo consideration by the Royal Thai Police appointment committee chaired by the Commissioner, alongside Deputy Commissioners. They review names before proposing them to the Police Commission for approval. However, this appointment list is not final; if objections arise during the Police Commission meeting, adjustments can be made until formal approval is granted.
Focusing on individuals and key positions from the latest list, the analysis is as follows.
Police Major General Nopasin Poolsawat, though less senior compared to others, has outstanding and widely recognized achievements in investigation and suppression. His promotion to a command position, with rumors of moving to the Immigration Bureau, aligns well with the critical mission of combating transnational crime, foreign offenders, and gray-area businesses.
Police Major General Jaroonkiat Pankaew, despite relatively low seniority, has continuously suppressed major cases and influential figures. His stepwise promotion to key positions reflects legitimate organizational consideration, with future opportunities to advance to important roles.
Police Lieutenant General Phumin Poompanmuang has grown from investigation and suppression roles, providing a strong foundation to advance in drug suppression duties (Office of Narcotics Control Board).
Careful appointment considerations are necessary for units controlling strategic areas, including positions such as Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Provincial Police Commissioners 1–9, and Metropolitan and Provincial Police Commanders. These are critical roles overseeing over 1,480 police stations nationwide, tasked with implementing government policies and safeguarding the public.
Regarding appointments based on knowledge and abilities, with a 50% quota, problems often arise when officers with less seniority—such as Deputy Provincial Police Commanders serving 2 years—are promoted over more senior officers who have served 3–5 years, despite many candidates competing for limited positions.
In past cases, the Police Commission Complaints Committee has adjudicated and provided remedies. Therefore, in this appointment round, commanders and the Police Commission must provide clear explanations and concrete performance evidence justifying why less senior officers are chosen. Failure to do so may invite repeated complaints, undermine integrity, and raise suspicions of patronage or political interference.
At the Royal Thai Police Operations Center, 20th floor, on 23 Aug 2023 GMT+7 at 10:00 a.m., Police General Kittirat Phanpetch, Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, chaired the appointment committee ("screening board") to select police officers from Assistant Commissioner to Provincial Police Commander nationwide. Present were Deputy Commissioners Police Generals Thana Chuwong, Thatchai Pitanilabut, Niran Lueamsri, Kornchai Klayklung, and Commissioner Ittipol Acharayapradit. This year, there are 156 vacancies: 3 Deputy Commissioner positions, 6 Assistant Commissioner positions, 19 Provincial Police Commander posts, 41 Deputy Provincial Police Commander posts, and 94 Police Commander posts.
Three Deputy Commissioner vacancies will be filled by promoting Assistant Commissioners by seniority: Police Lieutenant General Nopawat Arayangkur will be promoted; Police Lieutenant General Krisada Surachetphong will become Deputy Commissioner; Police Lieutenant General Thanapon Srisopa will be Deputy Commissioner of the Police Special Branch. Six Assistant Commissioner vacancies will be filled by promoting Provincial Police Commanders by seniority: Police Lieutenant General Santi Chainiramai from Region 4 to Assistant Commissioner; Police Lieutenant General Nitithorn Jintakarn from Special Operations Command to Assistant Commissioner; Police Lieutenant General Achayon Kraithong from Narcotics Suppression Command to Assistant Commissioner; Police Lieutenant General Krisakorn Pleethanyawong from Special Branch to Assistant Commissioner; Police Lieutenant General Phisit Tanprasert from Provincial Police Region 7 to Deputy Police Special Branch; and Police Lieutenant General Kritthaphon Yisakorn from Provincial Police Region 5 to Deputy Police Special Branch.
At the Provincial Police Commander level, incumbents remain: Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Class 46 Police Cadet Academy; Police Lieutenant General Nattakrit Chaowana-sai, Special Operations Command, Class 47; Police Lieutenant General Rungroj Thakoonpunyasiri, Border Patrol Police Commander, Class 48; Police Lieutenant General Yoswin Hansamon, Special Branch, Class 45; Police Lieutenant General Piyawat Chalermsri, Provincial Police Region 9; Police Lieutenant General Sakri Priwaparnich, Police Cadet Academy School Commander, Class 43; Police Lieutenant General Pichet Jiranantsin, Crime Suppression Division; Police Lieutenant General Chaikphajan Suwanrak, Special Branch remain in their posts.
Police Lieutenant General Nopasin Poolsawat, Commander attached to the Commissioner’s Office, Class 46 Police Cadet Academy, known for handling the "foreign nominee" case; Police General Samran Nuanma, future Commissioner, transferred to Immigration Bureau Commander; Police Lieutenant General Naradet Thiprak, Commander attached to the Commissioner’s Office, Class 41 and classmate of Commissioner Kittirat Phanpetch, promoted to Provincial Police Region 1 Commander; Police Major General Wasan Techakakrasem, Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Class 46, noted for work at the Center for Suppression of Computer Crime; Police General Thana Chuwong, Deputy Commissioner; and Police General Jirapop Puridet, Assistant Commissioner, promoted to Provincial Police Region 2 Commander; Police Lieutenant General Aticha Paoin, Provincial Police Special Branch Commander, Class 44, promoted to Provincial Police Region 3 Commander; Police Major General Nopkao Somnath, Deputy Provincial Police Region 4 Commander, Class 48, promoted directly to Provincial Police Region 4 Commander; Police Major General Prachya Prasansuk, Deputy Immigration Bureau Commander, Class 46, promoted to Provincial Police Region 5 Commander; Police Major General Worawat Mali, Deputy Provincial Police Region 6 Commander, Class 44, promoted to Provincial Police Region 6 Commander.
Police Lieutenant General Siratchet Kruwattanaset, Police Special Branch (Level 8), promoted to Provincial Police Region 7 Commander; Police Lieutenant General Wimon Pitakburapa, Special Branch Commander, Class 45, transferred to Provincial Police Region 8 Commander; Police Lieutenant General Phumin Poompanmuang, Commander attached to the Commissioner’s Office, Class 52, transferred to Narcotics Suppression Command; Police Major General Pongsayam Meekhanthong, Deputy Tourist Police Commander, Class 42, former aide to Police General Sant Sarutanont, former Commissioner, promoted to Tourist Police Commander; Police Major General Thinkorn Rangmat, Deputy Cyber Crime Suppression Division Commander, Class 46, noted for work at the Center for Suppression of Computer Crime, promoted to Cyber Crime Suppression Division Commander.
Police Major General Pitak Uthaitham, Deputy Commander attached to the Commissioner’s Office, Class 48, known for work on "foreign nominee" cases under Police General Samran Nuanma, future Commissioner, promoted to Special Branch Crime Suppression Division Commander; Police Major General Wiwat Khamchamnarn, Deputy Cyber Crime Suppression Division Commander, Class 45, also remedied by the Police Commission Complaints Committee, promoted to Commander attached to the Commissioner’s Office; Police Major General Preeda Sathaworn, Deputy Special Branch Commander, promoted to Commander attached to the Commissioner’s Office; Police Major General Pantana Nuchanat, Deputy Immigration Bureau Commander, Class 48, investigator, promoted to Special Branch Security Command Commander; Police Major General Somboon Tiankaew, Deputy Narcotics Suppression Command Commander, Class 50, known for drug enforcement, promoted to Commander attached to the Commissioner’s Office; Police Major General Weerapat Siwaphaet, Deputy Special Branch Commander, promoted to Special Branch Commander; Police Lieutenant General Prutthipong Prayursiri, Provincial Police Region 3 Commander, Class 42, transferred to Special Branch Commander; Police Major General Chomchawin Purathananon, Deputy Provincial Police Region 7 Commander, Class 47, known for work, promoted to Commander attached to the Commissioner’s Office coordinating with the Prime Minister; Police Major General Jaroonkiat Pankaew, Deputy Special Branch Commander, promoted to Commander attached to the Commissioner’s Office.