Changes in critical police departments are being brought about by this year’s crises in the top and senior ranks of the force. The crises continue at the rank of brigadier general, while “surgical” moves have been described as “surgical” so far and will follow in the coming hours and days until the puzzle is completed.

Already, with the promotion of Panagiotis Poupouzas to the rank of lieutenant general and his appointment to the position of inspector of Southern Greece, the position of head of the Internal Affairs Directorate is vacant. According to reliable information, however, the continuation of the crises will put the current head of the Anti-Terrorism Department, Lefteris Hardalias, out of the service, while a change of baton is also expected in the operationally sensitive Information Management Directorate. Changes, however, are also expected in the Attica Traffic Police Directorate, but also in the leadership of the Emergency Response, with a different report for each service and different reasons.

These facts create conditions of dominoes, with three officers so far gathering the best chances to take over the command of the three nerve services. For the Anti-Terrorism Department, an officer with a long track record in state security agencies has the best chance, while the police leadership is also “eyeing” experienced officers from agencies such as Traffic and Airport Management to fill the vacancies in Internal Affairs and Information Management.

It is noted that so far, the Lt Gen and Lt Gen of the ELAS have been considered so far. Chief Dimitris Mallios remained in his position. By his decision, the Lieutenant Generals of the Hellenic Police were appointed as follows:

Paschalis Syritoudis, as Deputy Chief,
Panagiotis Pupouzas, as Inspector General of the Police of Southern Greece,
Georgios Papadopoulos, as Inspector General of Police of Northern Greece,
Charalambos Kalogiros, as Chief of Staff of the Hellenic Police Headquarters.