Bangkok: The Police Commission has unanimously voted to appoint Pol. Gen. Samran Nualma as the 16th Commissioner General of the Royal Thai Police. The decision was made during the 7th meeting of the Police Civil Service Commission in 2026, which lasted over two hours. The meeting was convened to select a successor for Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panpetch, who is set to retire on September 30th.
According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Lt. Gen. Thayu Chanthaoworn, Commissioner of the Police Civil Service Commission Office, announced that the Commission voted 12 to 0 in favor of Pol. Gen. Samran Nualma. The selection process adhered to the 2022 National Police Act, considering factors such as seniority, knowledge, abilities, and experience in investigation and crime prevention.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Thayuwat provided insights into the selection process, noting that the Prime Minister had submitted a list of qualified Deputy Commissioners of Police for consideration. During the meeting, discussions were held to evaluate the qualifications of the nominees comprehensively. Out of 16 Police Commission members, four Deputy Commissioners were eligible but abstained from voting, leaving 12 members to cast their votes.
Addressing concerns about the appointment of the third-ranked senior officer, potentially conflicting with the Police Act B.E. 2565 (2022), Pol. Lt. Gen. Thayuwat clarified that the law permits the Prime Minister to use discretion in nominating individuals based on "seniority," as well as their experience in investigation and crime prevention. The Prime Minister and the meeting participants thoroughly considered all legal procedures.
When questioned about the possibility of legal challenges or organizational discord, Pol. Lt. Gen. Thayuwat emphasized the importance of unity among police officers. He assured that the selection process was fair and urged all parties to remain confident in the continued collaboration and unity within the Royal Thai Police.