THE MAN who has led criticism of the appointment of Charalambos Koulendis as the new deputy chief of police will fill his shoes in his former post as director of Limassol police today.
Former chief of marine police Theodoros Stylianou will be sworn into his new job today, just days after his predecessor Koulendis was promoted to second-in-command.
Stylianou, the President of the Senior Police Officers’ Association, publicly condemned the selection board for ignoring “qualifications, ability and police hierarchy” in appointing Koulendis at the expense of eight rival candidates.
He said on Wednesday that the other candidates were bitter and indignant, but insisted that the dispute was “not personal”.
Some of the eight hopefuls took immediate leave of absence and contemplated handing in their resignation to protest against the promotion of someone they said was lower in the pecking order for the post.
Instead most will appeal against the decision to the Supreme Court.
Justice Minister Nicos Koshis, who along with police chief Andreas Angelides has defended Koulendis’ appointment, said it was people’s democratic right to appeal to the justice system.
Stylianou was also due to discuss the matter with the second deputy chief of police George Voutounos yesterday.
Promoted two months ago from chief of traffic police, Voutounos is thought to have been instrumental in the Koulendis’ appointment.
He was yesterday unavailable for comment.
But the marine chief, who until Koulendis’ promotion was his superior officer, accepted his rival’s former job.
He promised to strengthen law and order and consolidate the development of good relations between the police force and the public.
He will be sworn in as the new director of Limassol police today. Stylianou’s replacement at the helm of marine police in Limassol will be Yiannakis Eliades.
Koulendis yesterday escaped from the continuing row about his appointment. He flew to London to testify in a trial brought by a New Zealand businessman, allegedly defrauded out of $3.7 million at the hands of former Bishop Chrysanthos of Limassol.
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