Video: Chief transferred after spokesman admits "sleeping cop" was "bad for the image of RTP"

[webfact]

Picture: Thai Rath

 

It has been another damning indictment of the Royal Thai Police, at least in the eyes of the Thai public who have been salivating over another video clip on social media.

 

Following the now infamous death of a drug suspect in custody after plastic bags were wrapped around his head comes a less serious matter but one that a spokesman said showed the force in a poor light.

 

A woman went to report that a neighbor of hers in Na Jan, Khon Kaen had threatened her with a gun.

 

When she got to the Si Chompu station there was no one on the front desk so she peered into a storeroom where she found a half dressed cop in t-shirt and khaki trousers. 

 

This was 52 year old Sen Sgt Maj Bunsong Khammatasila who was sleeping and incoherent when the member of the public said she had a crime to report. 

 

"Mr Policeman," she inquired in the video as she looked in the storeroom. I wish to file a comnplaint".

 

The suggestion was that the cop sprawled on the ground was drunk. She decided to film and post her clip. This was 10 pm on Sunday.

 

Following the public uproar the provincial chief of police set up a committee of inquiry and ordered the transfer of the Si Chompu station chief Pol Col Phraiwan Thaophrom to Khon Kaen police HQ for paper shuffling duties. 

 

The sleeping cop has been given some time off.

 

Yesterday spokesman Pol Col Thanawat Deebunmee Na Chumphae attempted to explain everything as the chief arrived with his tail between his legs.

 

Thanawat said that the sleeping cop had not been feeling well after finishing his duty and decided to have a nap.

 

When the lady came into report a crime the policeman who was manning the front desk was in the loo which was why she went to the storeroom to find someone to help.

 

"It really was not on," he admitted. "It has presented the police in a bad light and damaged our image.

 

"The public expect and deserve that we are available 24/7 and this has harmed that confidence".

 

Meanwhile the chief of Si Chompu station spoke to Thai Rath saying that the woman had reported her neighbor Khathawut Ratkaew, 38. 

 

A non-working gun was retrieved and he was tested positive with a purple urine test for Class 1 drugs and charged with taking drugs. 

 

She now understood why the cop was sleeping and it had all been cleared up. 

 

The committee will report on the incident as soon as possible.

 

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[Thaiwrath]

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

"It has presented the police in a bad light and damaged our image.

The image was damaged decades ago, well before I first came here, and that was 1991 !

[Artisi]

Is that not part of the work description, "sleeping on the job" 

[petermik]

Anyone on here old enough to remember when the Thai Police Force WAS respected?

[Swiss1960]

Once again: As long as the whole "punishment" is a few weeks of paper shuffling (called "inactive duty"), nothing will change. The ONLY solution is firing all those incompetent cops who are unwilling or incompetent to do their job. Just imagine the hundreds of million of salaries that could be saved...

[smedly]

Police are public servants - the concept is absent in Thailand

[Phuketshrew]

Brings a whole new meaning to the term "sleeping policeman". Surely this was the fault of the person in charge of ringing the bell to wake him up?

[LoliLoso]

54 minutes ago, webfact said:

She now understood why the cop was sleeping and it had all been cleared up

Ooops ! It's a misunderstanding. 

[smutcakes]

I classify myself as an aficionado of drunk behavior, and to me that very much looks like a drunken stupor...

[RafPinto]

51 minutes ago, Swiss1960 said:

Once again: As long as the whole "punishment" is a few weeks of paper shuffling (called "inactive duty"), nothing will change. The ONLY solution is firing all those incompetent cops who are unwilling or incompetent to do their job. Just imagine the hundreds of million of salaries that could be saved...

Ups. There won't be anyone left.

[RafPinto]

She now understood why the cop was sleeping and it had all been cleared up. 

 

 

555 They made her understand.

[robblok]

Right.. such convenient excuses. 

 

If the cop was just on the toilet then why could the woman not reach the police before.

 

This might be true what they are saying but its a bit convenient in my eyes.

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

She now understood why the cop was sleeping and it had all been cleared up. 

 

I would also understand pretty quickly if given the choice between "understanding" and wearing multiple plastic bags on my head for 10 minutes ????.

[poskat]

the true pathology is that the concern is about the image of the RTP rather being bad behavior that wont be tolerated.

 

basically, they are saying the problem isnt that this happened, but that people found out about it.

[MrJ2U]

Transferred to where?

 

To a cot?

 

 

[Orinoco]

Well done girl.

more please

[jacko45k]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Thanawat said that the sleeping cop had not been feeling well after finishing his duty and decided to have a nap.

 

When the lady came into report a crime the policeman who was manning the front desk was in the loo which was why she went to the storeroom to find someone to help.

What a crock.....

[rott]

Do the RTP have no understanding of how ridiculous that statement makes them look.?

Do they really think anybody is so stupid as to believe a word of it.?

 

[metisdead]

A post with an oversized trolling emoji has been removed. 

[trainman34014]

'We must be available 24 hrs';  What a joke.  In my Wifes old Village where we lived for a year or so the 'Police Box' closed at 10 pm because the 'Occupant' went drinking in the local Whisky joint after that and if you wanted him much after 10.30 he was out of his mind.    One of our Neighbours went to find him when her Husband died around 11pm and when roused he fell off his chair and said 'Leave it until morning will you '.  Another time a Woman went to complain she had just been Burgled and he said 'How much will you give me to come and investigate ? '   !

[sniggie]

3 hours ago, smedly said:

Police are public servants - the concept is absent in Thailand

No, they are not there to serve the public. The clue is in their title.

[kingstonkid]

3 hours ago, Phuketshrew said:

Brings a whole new meaning to the term "sleeping policeman". Surely this was the fault of the person in charge of ringing the bell to wake him up?

I have a suggestion why do they not get in touch with CP ALL and buy some of the 7/11 door bells.

The question though is if the cop was in the loo why did she not meet him eventually.

I used to do duty when I was younger in the military and there was 2 of us on duty at all times.  Around midnight if nothing was happening one of us used to get a couple of hours sleep while the other one did the duty.  If you had to go to the can yo either held it or woke the other person up.  

[Jimbo2014]

Better to be asleep than out extorting people and choking them with plastic bags!

[cracker1]

4 hours ago, Swiss1960 said:

Once again: As long as the whole "punishment" is a few weeks of paper shuffling (called "inactive duty"), nothing will change. The ONLY solution is firing all those incompetent cops who are unwilling or incompetent to do their job. Just imagine the hundreds of million of salaries that could be saved...

I think you just need to fire the station Chief as he must be responsible for the work and training of those below him. After a couple of "Chiefs" had been removed you could imagine how efficient the remainder would get !

[crazykopite]

So if that was the case and the sleeping policeman had finished his shift why was his boss moved to a less meaningful job of stuffing envelopes . We’re they brown envelopes by any chance and the policeman who was missing from the desk just happened to be in the loo 

something stinks to high heaven that’s the oldest trick of an excuse in the book !

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

Let them sleep, it's the only time they are not a danger to the public

[BangkokReady]

Would be interesting to see what would happen if people actually got their wish.  Can't help but think that some people would be unhappy if they found that improving their government officials actually meant they could no longer live the care-free lives they are accustomed to.

[Sydebolle]

Fire and reprimand, demote the chiefs and give the latter a pay cut and a warning, that if this happens again, they are next on the firing line.

What kind of state is all this - a bloody joke, nothing more than a bloody joke!

A failed state from A to Z - thank you! 

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Thanawat said that the sleeping cop had not been feeling well after finishing his duty and decided to have a nap.

Yeah okay.... sleeping in the storeroom is better than going home.

[GreasyFingers]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Thanawat said that the sleeping cop had not been feeling well after finishing his duty and decided to have a nap.

 

When the lady came into report a crime the policeman who was manning the front desk was in the loo which was why she went to the storeroom to find someone to help.

Possible explanation. Probability 1%.