Phuket Opinion: Hold the icy judgments of police volunteers

[Lite Beer]

Phuket Opinion: Hold the icy judgments of police volunteers
Phuket Gazette -

Ex-Tourist Police Volunteer Garry Halpin arrested for dealing crystal meth Image: Gazette Graphics

PHUKET: The arrest of well-known former Tourist Police Volunteer Gary Halpin, and the very serious charge of selling the illegal narcotic ya ice (crystal methamphetamine), rocked the Phuket expat community this week

For many people in the local English-language media, the New Zealander was relied on as a valuable and trusted source of information on numerous high-profile cases in the Chalong Police precinct.

Mr Halpin was a prominent figure in the south of the island, often seen assisting Chalong Police in conducting raids on various businesses, including recent raids on dive shops. In February last year, it was none other than Mr Halpin who escorted Stein Dokset – also a former Tourist Police Volunteer – out of his luxury villa in Kata after the Norwegian was placed under arrest for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Rungnapa Suktong

News of Mr Halpin’s arrest sparked intense debate over a range of related issues on local blogsites. There is a clear desire by the community to have a deeper understanding of how Mr Halpin was arrested by Phuket Provincial Police, not Chalong Police, in a room with a digital scale and over 18 grams of the powerful stimulant.

If the allegations against Mr Halpin are proved true in court, it will likely serve as a blow by association to the reputation of Tourist Police Volunteers (TPV) on the island. Indeed, the reaction to his arrest shows that there already exists a great deal of resentment and distrust among expats toward those foreigners who would don a uniform to assist the Royal Thai Police. Allegations of these volunteers being self-serving, power hungry and even corrupt are not uncommon.

However, the vast majority of Tourist Police volunteers we have interviewed or otherwise interacted with over the years have appeared to be well-intended and selfless. Their considerable efforts in assisting foreign visitors in distress go largely unreported and are thus unappreciated by many in the local expatriate community.

Police are rightly emphasizing that Mr Halpin’s official role with the Tourist Police had ended well before his arrest. However, that will do little to influence the court of public opinion, which has as its perfect medium the blogosphere, that grand digital masquerade party where virtually all matter of speculation is served up by legions of anonymous contributors with no accountability for their assertions whatsoever.

One thing certain, however, is that none of this banter will likely have any real bearing on the fate of Mr Halpin, whose future prospects now fall squarely into the hands of the criminal justice system.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-Opinion-Hold-the-icy-judgments-of-police-volunteers-23066.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-12-22

[chooka]

What sort of psychological screening or criminal background checks do these people go through. The vast majority all look like criminals and thugs and just based on appearance alone would never get a job as a cop back home.

[Somtamnication]

It is badly managed, too many chiefs in the village and the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing, amongst all the volunteers orgs working with tourist, immigration and police depts.

Furthermore, most of these volunteers do not speak fluent Thai, and some are passable enough. But that being the case, the cops speak passable English as well, so why use them?

[IrishIvan]

His role "had rightly ended before his arrest" then why is his picture still up on the Thai Police Volunteers website??? I mean like April was 9 months ago.

[patayayaya]

lol i saw this guy telling the working girls off for selling yaba near the pizza store at the start of bangla.

Edited December 22, 2013 by patayayaya

[hansgruber]

lol i saw this guy telling the working girls off for selling yaba near the pizza store at the start of bangla.

Rubbish troll.

He wasn't in the Patong area at all.

If you're going to troll, read the article properly and get the area right.

[IrishIvan]

"Their considerable efforts in assisting foreign visitors in distress go largely unreported"

Is that like when they play dress ups and hand out tickets to foreign tourists at Karon, Nai harn and Chalong?

Revenue raising is not helping tourists, its helping the local police finance Mia Nois and Toyota Fortuna car repayments

Edited December 22, 2013 by IrishIvan

[hansgruber]

This article is a joke.

The gazette gets their leads and material from the Thaivisa forum yet they put down the posters as anonymous contributors.

Maybe if they actually did some investigative journalism and followed these leads of extortion of Diveshops run by expats they could substantiate these claims.

I guess is just easier for them to plagiarise forums and blogs for a story without doing any real work.

The gazette has been a classified rag with no real content for years, I'm glad to see nothing has changed.

[IrishIvan]

"Police are rightly emphasizing that Mr Halpin’s official role with the Tourist Police had ended well before his arrest. However, that will do little to influence the court of public opinion, which has as its perfect medium the blogosphere, that grand digital masquerade party where virtually all matter of speculation is served up by legions of anonymous contributors with no accountability for their assertions whatsoever."

Whats worse? The bloggers? Or the newspaper that uses bloggers to print a front page story?

Edited December 22, 2013 by IrishIvan

[stevenl]

His role "had rightly ended before his arrest" then why is his picture still up on the Thai Police Volunteers website??? I mean like April was 9 months ago.

Because they are trying to wiggle out of it. For sure the week before his arrest he was still working at Chalong Police Station.

[chooka]

Reading in a Kiwi paper his intention was to supply to tourists and kids. Nice guy I hope they throw everything at him. I despise drug traffickers.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/asia/9520457/Kiwi-arrested-in-Phuket-with-crystal-meth

[KarenBravo]

Reading in a Kiwi paper his intention was to supply to tourists and kids.

No, the dealer that sold him the drugs said that, not Halpin.

[IrishIvan]

Reading in a Kiwi paper his intention was to supply to tourists and kids. Nice guy I hope they throw everything at him. I despise drug traffickers.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/asia/9520457/Kiwi-arrested-in-Phuket-with-crystal-meth

its hardly surprising the age bracket he targeted. Grand daddy's and mommys dont often wrap their lips around an ice pipe

[FireMedic]

I love how easily his existence is disavowed by senior leaders! This is classic Thailand. Everyone sees him weekly in Chalong and on Bangla Rd. He even has his own cash register desk at the Chalong station. The problem is because he does speak perfect Thai and is very friendly with senior leaders within the Tourist Police he has great leeway. He often drives police cars, helps in major investigations including homicides. While it is true his ID did expire in April, this means very little to nothing. 100% of the TPV do not have current ID. Now I see why none of them do. Just in case someone gets into deep trouble, they can just disavow any knowledge of them. He even received an award from the very person who disavowed him working just 2 months ago. Phuket Gazette should get their facts straight when printing such a high profile story and if they do know the real facts and do not print them, then they are just as corrupt as the people they report on.

[hansgruber]

The journalistic prowess shown in the article is that of a search engine journalist. Never in the field gathering stories yet doubts the credibility of those on the ground living it.

Pathetic.

[hansgruber]

Who is the journalist who wrote this?

Just goes to show how spineless the gazette is.

Calling out speculation by anonymous contributors yet is written by an anonymous author.

[me313]

People of the same ilk defending their cohorts in the good old boy network here in Phuket--for people of that same set this article will come as a relief and justification. Otherwise it's worthy of the title "opinion" and based on pure bias. The mentality is rotten.

[thhMan]

Thailand has done one thing very well and that is to make the distinction of... "us and them"

Halpin is a traitor

nuff said

[Nip]

Be under no illusion the Phuket Tourist Police and the volunteers who worked with Halpin knew exactly what he was up to. If they didn't they should be made resign. I believe he was a topic of conversation on many occasions with the Hon Consuls with regards to shaking down tourists. He was brash and brazen because he thought he was a protected species. Many reported him but nothing was done. He lived a life of plenty with no apparent income? Prior to working with the Volunteers he barely scraped a living.

[IrishIvan]

Be under no illusion the Phuket Tourist Police and the volunteers who worked with Halpin knew exactly what he was up to. If they didn't they should be made resign. I believe he was a topic of conversation on many occasions with the Hon Consuls with regards to shaking down tourists. He was brash and brazen because he thought he was a protected species. Many reported him but nothing was done. He lived a life of plenty with no apparent income? Prior to working with the Volunteers he barely scraped a living.

No doubt there are hundreds of people that have been shaken down by this standover merchant. Its just a pity that they will never be heard as no one will investigate it.

[HeavyDrinker]

What has struck me most about this whole situation is that had it have been a 'regular' expat or tourist busted for the same offence, the 'lock him up and throw away the key" brigade would have been out in force yet seeing as he's an expat of "good standing" and a TPV (who seem to have their own little support network (on and offline) there has been little of this type of reaction....

[simon43]

While it is true his ID did expire in April

I probably hold the record for an expired TPV ID card. My official ID card expired in 2009!

Since that date, I worked as a volunteer in Pattaya for 1 year, and then worked in Myanmar. I returned to Phuket earlier this year. I re-applied to work as a TPV at the airport (my home area). I was accepted into the programme again and eagerly awaited issue of my new ID card. Alas - despite waioting months for the valid card, it never materialised and I was authorised to work as a TPV using my ID card that expired 4 years ago.

Well at least, I look quite young in the ID card photo

If my superiors cannot even organise issue of ID cards in an efficient manner, what hope is there to organise and effciently manage a team of volunteers?

Simon.

[phuketsub]

I think your post only reinforces the validity of the comments that appear in the article.

The column on the website is clearly attributed to the Phuket Gazette, whose Editor takes legal responsibility for the content and whose identify is a matter of public record.

Not revealing the identity of the author in an editorial column is a journalistic standard that dates back over a century and you will never see editorial columns in the Bangkok Post, Nation, New York Times, etc, attributed to the actual author (or team of authors) either.

Among other things you accuse the Gazette of plagiarism, theft and directly insulting TV posters, even though there is no mention of TV in the story whatsoever and the two organizations have in fact had a content sharing agreement going back years.

These are serious allegations, some of which could land you in serious trouble if you were to present them in a forum where this is some measure of accountability: but it ain't this one!

Who is the journalist who wrote this?
Just goes to show how spineless the gazette is.
Calling out speculation by anonymous contributors yet is written by an anonymous author.

[stevenl]

What has struck me most about this whole situation is that had it have been a 'regular' expat or tourist busted for the same offence, the 'lock him up and throw away the key" brigade would have been out in force yet seeing as he's an expat of "good standing" and a TPV (who seem to have their own little support network (on and offline) there has been little of this type of reaction....

Looks like you did not read the thread about his arrest

[stevenl]

Be under no illusion the Phuket Tourist Police and the volunteers who worked with Halpin knew exactly what he was up to. If they didn't they should be made resign. I believe he was a topic of conversation on many occasions with the Hon Consuls with regards to shaking down tourists. He was brash and brazen because he thought he was a protected species. Many reported him but nothing was done. He lived a life of plenty with no apparent income? Prior to working with the Volunteers he barely scraped a living.

No doubt there are hundreds of people that have been shaken down by this standover merchant. Its just a pity that they will never be heard as no one will investigate it.

Anyone who goes to the policestation now will be heard about this, and the complaint noted. And that means it will have to be investigated.

[patayayaya]

lol i saw this guy telling the working girls off for selling yaba near the pizza store at the start of bangla.

Rubbish troll.

He wasn't in the Patong area at all.

If you're going to troll, read the article properly and get the area right.

no mates hansgruber what did bruce willis call you??? "eurotrash" lol..............

[Nip]

Be under no illusion the Phuket Tourist Police and the volunteers who worked with Halpin knew exactly what he was up to. If they didn't they should be made resign. I believe he was a topic of conversation on many occasions with the Hon Consuls with regards to shaking down tourists. He was brash and brazen because he thought he was a protected species. Many reported him but nothing was done. He lived a life of plenty with no apparent income? Prior to working with the Volunteers he barely scraped a living.

No doubt there are hundreds of people that have been shaken down by this standover merchant. Its just a pity that they will never be heard as no one will investigate it.

Anyone who goes to the policestation now will be heard about this, and the complaint noted. And that means it will have to be investigated.

You clearly have no idea of how the racist Thai police and in particular the ones in Phuket operate. Even when criminal reports are filed and arrest warrants issued they do nothing. Try it and see how you are intimidated and ignored. And how the tourist police put distance between. I am 3 years trying to file criminal police reports in Phuket the last time my interpreer lawyer and myself were intimidated to such an extent that we walked out of the police station.

[stevenl]

Be under no illusion the Phuket Tourist Police and the volunteers who worked with Halpin knew exactly what he was up to. If they didn't they should be made resign. I believe he was a topic of conversation on many occasions with the Hon Consuls with regards to shaking down tourists. He was brash and brazen because he thought he was a protected species. Many reported him but nothing was done. He lived a life of plenty with no apparent income? Prior to working with the Volunteers he barely scraped a living.

No doubt there are hundreds of people that have been shaken down by this standover merchant. Its just a pity that they will never be heard as no one will investigate it.

Anyone who goes to the policestation now will be heard about this, and the complaint noted. And that means it will have to be investigated.

You clearly have no idea of how the racist Thai police and in particular the ones in Phuket operate. Even when criminal reports are filed and arrest warrants issued they do nothing. Try it and see how you are intimidated and ignored. And how the tourist police put distance between. I am 3 years trying to file criminal police reports in Phuket the last time my interpreer lawyer and myself were intimidated to such an extent that we walked out of the police station.

I don't agree with your comments, but is the person you're making accusations against in jail already? Because that is the case here, and that will make them all very eager to jump aboard the ship.

Edited December 22, 2013 by stevenl

[jpeg]

You clearly have no idea of how the racist Thai police and in particular the ones in Phuket operate. Even when criminal reports are filed and arrest warrants issued they do nothing. Try it and see how you are intimidated and ignored. And how the tourist police put distance between. I am 3 years trying to file criminal police reports in Phuket the last time my interpreer lawyer and myself were intimidated to such an extent that we walked out of the police station.

Well this is easy. Get a lawyer who intimidates them. I did

[Nip]

You clearly have no idea of how the racist Thai police and in particular the ones in Phuket operate. Even when criminal reports are filed and arrest warrants issued they do nothing. Try it and see how you are intimidated and ignored. And how the tourist police put distance between. I am 3 years trying to file criminal police reports in Phuket the last time my interpreer lawyer and myself were intimidated to such an extent that we walked out of the police station.

Well this is easy. Get a lawyer who intimidates them. I did

Perhaps you might PM me the name of this one lawyer who can intimidate the Phuket police. The lawyers work hand in glove with the police in Phuket. Thats how they make their money. Look at how for eg Halpin, his police handler and a bent lawyer worked together to nail a tourist for almost 800K Baht. A prominent Phuket lawyer once said to me that they can not survive on the set fees they collect from clients. I have a lawyer and he is a strong lawyer (not from Phuket) but he warned that intimidating the police does not work because they will simply not fully investigate and omit pertinent points of law. They walk the walk, talk the talk but piss in the same pot. I originally had a Phuket lawyer who was sold to me as being well connected and deep in my court submission in Thai it stated that I was aware that I had attempted to circumvent Thai law. A small comment in Thai arranged so that I would loose the case. I was lucky I found it by chance. If there are honest lawyers in Phuket I have yet to meet one and I have met many.