Pol Gen Kittharath Punpetch, the newly appointed National Police Chief of Thailand, has pledged to uphold lawful conduct and enhance police professionalism with a focus on protecting life and property while actively preventing and detecting crime.

His appointment, unanimously approved by the Police Commission, marks a significant step in his career as he succeeds Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol, who retired at the end of September.

Born in Ratchaburi and a son of a former police officer, Pol Gen Kittharath embodies a legacy of service, promising to uphold honesty and transparency as the cornerstones of his work.

His career trajectory has been marked by rapid ascension through the ranks, starting in 1988 as a deputy inspector in Rayong before moving to higher roles within the Royal Thai Police headquarters.

Notably, he excelled in intelligence work under Pol Gen Jakthip Chaijinda’s guidance.

In an exclusive interview with the Bangkok Post, Pol Gen Kittharath highlighted his commitment to fairness in police reshuffles and appointments, adhering to seniority rules as stipulated in the Police Act.

He aims to foster a professional police organization that maintains law and order and safeguards public welfare.

Kittharath’s formative years saw him navigate familial influence and personal ambition.

Abandoning a childhood dream of becoming a fisherman, he was steered towards a policing career by his father’s persuasion, which promised a fishing net if he passed his entrance exams.

Although his father passed away before he could deliver on the promise, Kittharath went on to excel at the Royal Police Cadet Academy, becoming a member of Class 41.

Under his leadership, several urgent policies are slated for implementation.

These include measures to curtail illegal immigration, and bolster the Comprehensive Investigation Bureau (CIB) as a central point of contact for international and complex cases.

Kittharath emphasizes the importance of working with non-commissioned officers, a substantial part of the police force, ensuring that they are well cared for, informed in part by his father’s own experiences in this group.

Kittharath is also determined to address the surge in cybercrime and tackle narcotics by collaborating with neighboring nations.

His vision is to transform Thailand into a challenging environment for the drug trade, supported by strategic suppression efforts to raise drug prices due to scarcity.

Furthermore, the new police chief is contemplating the development of a 'police influencer' initiative aimed at increasing public trust and ensuring the police become the first point of contact for legal issues, including online scams.

Such efforts are expected to enhance transparency and trust, core tenets of Kittharath's policies.

Pol Gen Kittharath’s role as acting national police chief for three months prior to his official appointment brought awareness to the complexities of the position amidst turmoil within the police ranks.

He expresses a strong desire to improve the public image of the Royal Thai Police and is set to steer the force through an era of change, with the backing of the Police Commission and the Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.