A MASSIVE SHAKEUP in the police service which will see DCOP Patrick Timbillah being replaced by ACP Kofi Boakye as the Ashanti Regional Police Commander is in the pipeline.

Credible information reaching DAILY GUIDE indicates that the Mills administration has sanctioned that DCOP Timbillah, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, should be removed from office.

A source at the Castle who disclosed this information said ACP Kofi Boakye’s name had popped up as the likely successor to the outgoing Ashanti Regional Police commander. The source could not disclose the exact motive behind government’s intended actions but speculated that it might be politically inclined.

He disclosed that DCOP Timbillah would be returned to the police headquarters in Accra but could not tell exactly what he would be doing at the headquarters, where he had been a staff officer and operation head.

The source said the big shakeup in the Ashanti police could take place as soon as next week, adding that other officers in the region that had been tagged NPP sympathisers would also be transferred to some remote areas.

According to him, the Ashanti region was not the only region in the country that would be affected by the impending massive shakeup in the police service by the ruling political party. He disclosed that plans were far afoot by the presidency to replace police officials holding key and very sensitive positions across the country, with those that were known to be staunch NDC members.

This infamous exercise, the source hinted, was among the numerous strategies that the Mills government wanted to embark upon in 2012. According to him, the presidency would be banking its hopes on its known members that would be appointed to these key and sensitive positions to help the party retain political power in 2012.

DCOP Timbillah, a hardworking police officer, has brought several improvements to the police service since he took over the helm of affairs as Ashanti Regional Police Commander.

It was during his time that known hardened criminals that had in the past eluded police arrest were nabbed or shot dead by the Ashanti Regional Police command. DCOP Timbillah is noted for showing care and love to his subordinates in the police service and this is said to have helped him get the unflinching support of the entire police officers in the region.

Judging from his efficiency and dedication to duty, and the support that he commands from his subordinates, any attempt by the presidency to replace DCOP Timbillah might have serious repercussions for the police service in the region, especially now.