Pattaya Superintendent Col.
Suwan Cheaonawinthawat presents a citation to Sen. Sgt. Maj. Jinna Son-unn,
a traffic officer cited for ethical and moral behavior.
Teerarak Suthathiwong
Pattaya Police officers were lectured against bribe taking and reminded
of their duties at a meeting with top regional law-enforcement officials.
Col. Suvichan Yankittikhun, deputy superintendent of Chonburi Police
Station, and Pattaya Superintendent Col. Suwan Cheaonawinthawat also used
the Aug. 23 assembly at the Town in Town hotel to present annual awards and
scholarships to police families.
Suvichan told officers to place the needs of the public before their own and
to work openly. He said provincial police officials had received many
complaints about officers demanding bribes. Despite numerous warnings, the
behavior has continued and legal cases are now being prepared against
corrupt officers, he said.
Suwan echoed the admonitions against bribe-taking, singling out officers who
man the city’s many roadside checkpoints. He said police should not take
cash in exchange for not arresting or ticketing offenders. Traffic police,
likewise, should always write tickets when encountering drivers violating
parking laws or buses dropping off passengers illegally.
He also reminded officers of arguably obvious responsibilities to patrol
banks, gold shops and foreign exchange booths and to not drink or hang out
in bars while on the clock.
Any officers found to be violating the law or shirking their duties would be
shipped off to the Koh Larn substation, Suwan said.
The police chief wrapped up the meeting with plaque presentations to Sen.
Sgt. Maj. Jinna Son-unn, a traffic officer cited for ethical and moral
behavior. Thirty children of police officers were also given 1,000 baht
scholarships.
