Deputy Police Chief Declines Transfer, Seeks to Serve Until Retirement
Senior Deputy Police Chief Niran Lumsri declined a transfer, invoking the National Police Act to request serving the remaining two years until his retirement with the Royal Thai Police rather than moving to another agency.
Deputy Police Chief Niran Lumsri, the most senior deputy commissioner, submitted an urgent letter to Police Chief Kittiratch Panpetch on July 27, 2024, formally declining a transfer to another government agency and requesting to remain with the Royal Thai Police until retirement. The letter came following a Prime Minister's Office announcement on July 24 regarding the royal appointment of Police Chief Samaraon Nualma, who will assume the top position on October 1, 2024.
In his letter, Lumsri cited Section 93 of the National Police Act, which states that transfers require the officer's consent. He emphasized that with only two years of service remaining before retirement and 37 years already served in the police force, he lacks experience in other government sectors. Lumsri argued that his expertise in investigation, crime prevention, and management—developed entirely within the Royal Thai Police—would be better utilized by remaining in the organization rather than transferring elsewhere with limited time left to contribute meaningfully. He stressed his commitment to good governance and efficient service delivery, concluding that his continued presence in the police force would serve the public interest more effectively than a late-career transfer to an unfamiliar agency.
