Phuket Tourist Police expat volunteer arrested on crystal meth charges

[Showbags]

First of all Garry Halpin is a member of my family and we are absolutely shocked and saddened by this news. Garry is a wonderful, kind, caring and GENEROUS person who has made some devastatingly bad decisions!

For everyone saying he should be made an example of and should rot in jail, please know he is the sole provider and carer for two young children and you cannot judge someone based on an awful mistake when you do not know him nor know what led to him being put in this stupid situation...desperate times call for desperate measures...and NO that does not condone or justify doing what he did but he has been going through tough times recently. Our family only wishes now that we knew the extent of this so that we could help.

He is not a terrible person, he has just made a terrible terrible choice.

Garry helped me in an emergency in October this year and was in full uniform and driving a police truck at the time. I found him at the Chalong police station and he escorted me in heavy traffic to my home where a medical emergency was taking place with a neighbor that needed an ambulance. He acted with professionalism and I am very grateful to his help that helped save my neighbor's life. I just can't believe all of this has happened and feel truly sad for what may happen to Garry now under the Thai justice. I can't believe that he was not a tourist police since April! I smell a rat!

Exactly.

Here is a first hand witness to counteract what the police chief had said that GH has not been a TP for 6 months or more.

Something rotten in Denmark...

[PeterSmiles]

First of all Garry Halpin is a member of my family and we are absolutely shocked and saddened by this news. Garry is a wonderful, kind, caring and GENEROUS person who has made some devastatingly bad decisions!

For everyone saying he should be made an example of and should rot in jail, please know he is the sole provider and carer for two young children and you cannot judge someone based on an awful mistake when you do not know him nor know what led to him being put in this stupid situation...desperate times call for desperate measures...and NO that does not condone or justify doing what he did but he has been going through tough times recently. Our family only wishes now that we knew the extent of this so that we could help.

He is not a terrible person, he has just made a terrible terrible choice.

Garry helped me in an emergency in October this year and was in full uniform and driving a police truck at the time. I found him at the Chalong police station and he escorted me in heavy traffic to my home where a medical emergency was taking place with a neighbor that needed an ambulance. He acted with professionalism and I am very grateful to his help that helped save my neighbor's life. I just can't believe all of this has happened and feel truly sad for what may happen to Garry now under the Thai justice. I can't believe that he was not a tourist police since April! I smell a rat!

That is very interesting, because post #91 in this thread says

Maj Urumporn told The Phuket News this morning that Halpin’s official contract/licence as a volunteer with the Tourist Police expired in April this year, and he did not come in to renew it.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/689269-phuket-tourist-police-expat-volunteer-arrested-on-crystal-meth-charges/?p=7163697

[Satcommlee]

While the Foreign Tourist Police Volunteer system and the FPV's do have a useful role to play, unfortunately it does attract this sort of person.

There is a disproportionate amount of criminals amongst them (that we know of) compared to say the regular expat community.

We've had them convicted in Pattaya and also Phuket.. and what is this a combined group of say 50 people??

So 4% of Farang Police volunteers are Drug Dealers.. something wrong here surely!!!

[Jim walker]

I think I need to change my Samsung Galaxy phone or people maybe think I am a drug dealer, he needs to be set an example of and locked up for a long time along with a hefty 500Baht fine.

[Prbkk]

While the Foreign Tourist Police Volunteer system and the FPV's do have a useful role to play, unfortunately it does attract this sort of person.

There is a disproportionate amount of criminals amongst them (that we know of) compared to say the regular expat community.

We've had them convicted in Pattaya and also Phuket.. and what is this a combined group of say 50 people??

So 4% of Farang Police volunteers are Drug Dealers.. something wrong here surely!!!

Is this generally accepted? ( a genuine question as I have had no dealings with them or knowledge of them). Pretty shocking if that's the case

[NomadJoe]

A virtual "Thai finger point."

"That's him." - 8th row down - 3rd across.

http://www.phuket-tourist-police-volunteers.com/team.html

Had a look at the "volunteer team" and noticed not one member is a Yank. That simple fact both redeems my faith and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy

That list is out of date. There are some Americans now.The ones I know of are former police officers. I also know that most TPV's did not associate with Gary. He very much did his own thing.

Edited December 15, 2013 by NomadJoe

[NomadJoe]

Even his supervisor Wal has stated he was taking money when he shouldnt have been. The drugs isnt the only thing this rooster was up to. And its been for a long time. You dont just come to another country and start dealing drugs. Im sure he has done it before in the west. Thats why he was so comfortable with it Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Wal was not Garry's supervisor. Garry was, at least at one time on the past depending on who you believe, a tourist police volunteer, but worked primarily out of the Chalong Police station. Wal supervises the Region 8 volunteers. The difference is the Region 8 volunteers work for the "normal" Thai police, not the Tourist Police. Region 8 police district describes Phuket and a few other surrounding provinces. They are based in Surrathani.

Edited December 15, 2013 by NomadJoe

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

If they were serious about helping people then they should lose the batman style utility belt and combat boots. And adopt a more tourist friendly uniform like a floral shirt and sunhat. With a translator style service... not a swat team look.

That's the part that has concerned me about this entire program in the various places it's been used in Thailand.

I'm not a part of it in any way. But from the various news reports that have cropped up over time, it does seem like some of the guys involved in this are out there ACTING like and looking like actual policemen (which they are not), instead of being translators and volunteers.

And now in this thread we have comments about the arrested individual driving around in a Thai police truck, comments from a colleague about him supposedly being paid by the Thai police for his services, and one member posting about an alleged extortion attempt.

Thailand desperately needs help for its police in dealing with English and other language residents/tourists here in country. But it really doesn't need farangs roaming the streets pretending to be Thai police, or at least, acting like they are.

Edited December 15, 2013 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I am not in Phuket, I don't want to be. I am a TPV where I am, I do not wear a uniform, BUT have put my services forward to TP to help farags to understand their position if a problem. Plain and simple. Folk here run me down as being a truncheon wielding wannabe, which could not be further than the truth.

Transam, I think most level-headed folks here would support that kind of activity and find it helpful and productive.

On the other hand, it's the "let's pretend I'm a policeman in Thailand" types that draw a lot of negative reactions among our expat community.

I do hope you're leaving your truncheon at home...

Edited December 15, 2013 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[sfm]

Tourist Police = Idiots who want to be someone.

Better do away with all of them and teach some of the brighter police ( Are there any? ) to speak other languages

> Tourist Police = Idiots who want to be someone.

I absolutely don't agree in general.

The few times I have been close to some of them I see people doing a very good and important job in at time difficult settings.

Especially those farangs who overstep written and unwritten rules as guest are very lucky to have these guys to work out a solution.

Yes, there was one exception, but that was the one confirming the rule.

[abcdefghi]

First of all Garry Halpin is a member of my family and we are absolutely shocked and saddened by this news. Garry is a wonderful, kind, caring and GENEROUS person who has made some devastatingly bad decisions!

For everyone saying he should be made an example of and should rot in jail, please know he is the sole provider and carer for two young children and you cannot judge someone based on an awful mistake when you do not know him nor know what led to him being put in this stupid situation...desperate times call for desperate measures...and NO that does not condone or justify doing what he did but he has been going through tough times recently. Our family only wishes now that we knew the extent of this so that we could help.

He is not a terrible person, he has just made a terrible terrible choice.

Garry helped me in an emergency in October this year and was in full uniform and driving a police truck at the time. I found him at the Chalong police station and he escorted me in heavy traffic to my home where a medical emergency was taking place with a neighbor that needed an ambulance. He acted with professionalism and I am very grateful to his help that helped save my neighbor's life. I just can't believe all of this has happened and feel truly sad for what may happen to Garry now under the Thai justice. I can't believe that he was not a tourist police since April! I smell a rat!

Thank you for posting this.

[prvtdetdave]

Santa's come early with a nice sack of schadenfreude.......

Excellent use of the word "schadenfreude".

Well done that chap.

Wasit mean guv...?.....

Full Definition of SCHADENFREUDE

: enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others

See schadenfreude defined for English-language learners »

Origin of SCHADENFREUDE

German, from Schaden damage + Freude joy

First Known Use: 1895

[Tchooptip]

If true and he's found guilty then he's a scumbag.

Doctor Jekyll and mister Hyde

[Maha Sarakham Marty]

Tourist Police = Idiots who want to be someone.

In most western countries, they couldn't get hired to be mall security guards.

And yet, these clowns are entrusted to do police work here.

Oh well, perhaps the long overdue need to scrap this nonsense program has been hastened by this latest crooked police volunteer selling drugs.

Edited December 15, 2013 by Maha Sarakham Marty

[me313]

I have had dealings with this man in his position as tourist police. I believe he's just one in a chain and he got isolated as a wild card, but I think he's not even a Trump in the deck....

He was absolutely biased towards me when I had a problem with an ex-pat landlord who basically stole my money; the good old boy system was well in place and he gladly helped grease the system of exploitation, with no provocation on my part except to try to defend myself against overt discrimination, which he kept firmly established as part of his "job". When I became angry and demanded justice, he threatened to put me in jail, so I am happy at least one of the pips in this rotten deck of cards and players got some kind of karma for bad deeds that were rewarded and now reprimanded now that he's gotten caught.....for an easily detectable illegal act.

[me313]

First of all Garry Halpin is a member of my family and we are absolutely shocked and saddened by this news. Garry is a wonderful, kind, caring and GENEROUS person who has made some devastatingly bad decisions!

For everyone saying he should be made an example of and should rot in jail, please know he is the sole provider and carer for two young children and you cannot judge someone based on an awful mistake when you do not know him nor know what led to him being put in this stupid situation...desperate times call for desperate measures...and NO that does not condone or justify doing what he did but he has been going through tough times recently. Our family only wishes now that we knew the extent of this so that we could help.

He is not a terrible person, he has just made a terrible terrible choice.

Garry helped me in an emergency in October this year and was in full uniform and driving a police truck at the time. I found him at the Chalong police station and he escorted me in heavy traffic to my home where a medical emergency was taking place with a neighbor that needed an ambulance. He acted with professionalism and I am very grateful to his help that helped save my neighbor's life. I just can't believe all of this has happened and feel truly sad for what may happen to Garry now under the Thai justice. I can't believe that he was not a tourist police since April! I smell a rat!

Thank you for posting this.

I believe you, and I'm sure if you're a white ex-pat he is the most caring helpful person. But he's a bigot and does not treat everyone the same, and has an extremely ugly side to him which you have now been able to see more clearly---perhaps it's only part of addiction. A good father, by the way, does not take methamphetamines.

[me313]

I distrust people who would "volunteer" to be police. A police officer should be a well paid, well trained and thoroughly tested professional, honest beyond all doubt. In America, many poorly funded police departments have volunteer or low paid "auxiliary" units, and in many cases they have made more trouble for their departments than they are worth.

What was he thinking? He'll have lots of time to ponder that questio

Police are another type of branch of the military in civil affairs, akin to soldiers. They are supposed to follow orders and use "discretion" in whether to make an arrest, but that discretion is based on a type of protocol that has been handed down from superiors, so they are following guidelines within the boundaries of discretion, based on their own prejudices and biases however. With so much power, corruption is inevitable. Transparency is one way to solve the problem of corruption, and that's something lacking. In America, in some cities and States, they don't have to have a college degree to become police officers. If having a college degree equates to less corruption, I'm not so certain anyway.

Edited December 16, 2013 by me313

[prvtdetdave]

A virtual "Thai finger point."

"That's him." - 8th row down - 3rd across.

http://www.phuket-tourist-police-volunteers.com/team.html

Had a look at the "volunteer team" and noticed not one member is a Yank. That simple fact both redeems my faith and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy

Why is that?

[Tchooptip]

Ive only heard bad things about volunteer police. They are always over exerting their authority. Getting into fights and tasering people, murder, drug dealing. Leave policing to the professionals. Not these under qualified, unchecked cowboys. Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Whaaat? They have Tasers ?

[stevenl]

First of all Garry Halpin is a member of my family and we are absolutely shocked and saddened by this news. Garry is a wonderful, kind, caring and GENEROUS person who has made some devastatingly bad decisions!

For everyone saying he should be made an example of and should rot in jail, please know he is the sole provider and carer for two young children and you cannot judge someone based on an awful mistake when you do not know him nor know what led to him being put in this stupid situation...desperate times call for desperate measures...and NO that does not condone or justify doing what he did but he has been going through tough times recently. Our family only wishes now that we knew the extent of this so that we could help.

He is not a terrible person, he has just made a terrible terrible choice.

Garry helped me in an emergency in October this year and was in full uniform and driving a police truck at the time. I found him at the Chalong police station and he escorted me in heavy traffic to my home where a medical emergency was taking place with a neighbor that needed an ambulance. He acted with professionalism and I am very grateful to his help that helped save my neighbor's life. I just can't believe all of this has happened and feel truly sad for what may happen to Garry now under the Thai justice. I can't believe that he was not a tourist police since April! I smell a rat!

Just a few days ago, on 10 december, he was working at chalong police station, in an area away from the general public.

Sent from my D90W using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[haybilly]

Besmirching the good name of the Phuket Tourist Police!

The BIB will be upset--surely this was their turf?

[Tchooptip]

10 years would be a good sentence and after 5 years shipped back to Kiwi land. I am afraid this guy only gets a couple of months plus the exchange of some large amount of Baht either at the police or via a lawyer to the courts.

Thai's would be gone for 18 - 24 months on this amount and possible even more.

We keep hearing farangs are getting busted but I have never heard that a farang actually gets jailed in Phuket, Samui or Pattaya.

but I have never heard that a farang actually gets jailed in Phuket, Samui or Pattaya.

You must be totally deaf!

[prvtdetdave]

T.police are worse than the mafia . I know one

city where the head of the TPV is a very powerful

person and is not to be crossed. He has contacts

across the board so very dangerous and his black

shirt private army are also dangerous .

Bullocks! Name the city.

[dighambara]

There is an old saying - "you get what you pay for".

As Volunteers are not paid, they are not very professional.

Of the dozen or so I have met, most speak no Thai and use the emblems of office for personal prestige. I think one guy even showers with his ID - it is always around his neck..

Likewise, I have seen two cliques, who never associate with one another - usually in a group in a coffee shop.

One on Pattaya's Walking Street had no Thai officer with him and spoke no Thai, so I used my poor abilities to help.

They would work best if always with a Thai Tourist Cop - some of whom are fluent in English

Meaning, IMHO - the Foreign volunteer program is not well monitored and attracts many untrained and unprofessional people.

[aguy30]

"Maj Urumporn told The Phuket News this morning that Halpin’s official contract/licence as a volunteer with the Tourist Police expired in April this year, and he did not come in to renew it."

That may be true, but was he still continuing to perform TPV duties without the renewal? Shall we assume he only just started his criminal activities after April?

Exactly what are the current duties and authority of a foreigner working as a Tourist Police Volunteer? I understand they are limited to ONLY assist and translate under the presence and direct supervision of a regular on duty police officer, but they have NO authority to do actual police work and no power to stop, arrest or detain anyone.

Exactly what are the current duties and authority of a Thai working as a Police Volunteer for the various police departments? Can they have any power to stop, detain or arrest or Issue traffic tickets?

What about the civil defense volunteers in tan military style uniforms (and sometimes carrying weapons)? Do they have police power? The seem to be autonomous and without any uniformed police presence or control as they patrol in large groups in their non regular police vehicles. Are they authorized to stop and search people, as they often do? Do they have power to arrest people?

Edited December 16, 2013 by aguy30

[Showbags]

A virtual "Thai finger point."

"That's him." - 8th row down - 3rd across.

http://www.phuket-tourist-police-volunteers.com/team.html

Had a look at the "volunteer team" and noticed not one member is a Yank. That simple fact both redeems my faith and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy alt=biggrin.png pagespeed_url_hash=14303579 width=20 height=20>

That list is out of date. There are some Americans now.The ones I know of are former police officers. I also know that most TPV's did not associate with Gary. He very much did his own thing.

perhaps it was he who did not associate with them.

[simon43]

As Volunteers are not paid, they are not very professional.

How do you come to that conclusion? That's not logical. Does a salary automatically make someone a professional??

Of the dozen or so I have met, most speak no Thai

Sadly, it does seem that few volunteers speak passable Thai, although many speak a second or third European language

Meaning, IMHO - the Foreign volunteer program is not well monitored and attracts many untrained and unprofessional people.

I agree with your comment. It seems to be 'take what is on offer', meaning that if someone volunteers to be a TPV, they are accepted into the program unless they have a clear criminal record etc.

IMHO, (and I suggested this many years ago), the foreign TPV program should be a national programme, with common standards of training, continual assessment and improvement for all locations. It should have a salaried, foreign supervisor based in Bangkok who has previous police experience and education in that sector.

Of course, pigs will fly before my ideas see the light of day.....

Simon

[transam]

There is an old saying - "you get what you pay for".

As Volunteers are not paid, they are not very professional.

Of the dozen or so I have met, most speak no Thai and use the emblems of office for personal prestige. I think one guy even showers with his ID - it is always around his neck..

Likewise, I have seen two cliques, who never associate with one another - usually in a group in a coffee shop.

One on Pattaya's Walking Street had no Thai officer with him and spoke no Thai, so I used my poor abilities to help.

They would work best if always with a Thai Tourist Cop - some of whom are fluent in English

Meaning, IMHO - the Foreign volunteer program is not well monitored and attracts many untrained and unprofessional people.

Referring to your last sentence, doesn't that apply to most stuff in LOS regardless of nationality.

[LOS1234]

IMHO, (and I suggested this many years ago), the foreign TPV program should be a national programme, with common standards of training, continual assessment and improvement for all locations. It should have a salaried, foreign supervisor based in Bangkok who has previous police experience and education in that sector.

Of course, pigs will fly before my ideas see the light of day.....

Simon

"police experience" this is exactly the problem

the volunteers are not police and have no authority to be police. but many do think they are the police. sit back and have few cold ones in patong/pattaya and watch.

the programs priority should help people and be a liason when a foreigner needs help. thats all. the ivestigative undercover, carrying tasers, sticks, cuffs, and what ever else they wear is not needed. thats the thai police responsibility.

the number 1 qualification should be their second language to be thai and fluent. even much better if can read thai.

no criminal record ( really how do you know someone's history from another country half way around the world). so background checks pretty much worthless. thats been shown, proven, and documented by some volunteers many times. deportation/jailed when found to be liars/criminal records.

the "police" in the name needs to be removed. they are not police.

just maybe then you could have a respected group of volunteers that want to help foreigners and be a liason with thai officials when needed.

[harleyclarkey]

The family member .... abcdefghi....."nice...caring...generous" man my foot. Don't try and blow smoke up our a**es.

Let's be clear about what we are dealing with here. Meth is a filthy drug, the very worst.....it is a killer. Even the addicts will tell you that after they were instantly hooked, they led a truly miserable, pathetic, life of utter despair and destruction, ending in death after their face collapsed, their teeth fell out and they shrivelled to nothing.

Take a look on the net at the before and after photos for meth addicts......stinking vile drug. Equally vile are those that handle and especially those who deal in this filth.

Anyone who even handles meth, in my book, is the lowest form of life on the planet and won't get a seconds sympathy from me.

A mere mistake by this "kind...caring...generous" man? No way......

Edited December 16, 2013 by harleyclarkey