volunteering to come back to help cover during Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay's honeymoon.

Mr. Bissell -- who announced his retirement last month -- was expected to fill in for several weeks.

But now he has started official pre-retirement leave -- with effect from Monday.

And that means CID boss Superintendent Vic Richmond will be Acting Commissioner for the next few weeks.

It is unclear whether Mr. Bissell -- who announced his retirement from the Assistant Commissioner's job recently -- was intended to act in the top job or work in his old role under Mr. Richmond.

But last night the force was keeping a tight lid on the controversy.

A Police spokesman said: "The Bermuda Police can confirm that, for reasons which will remain private between Assistant Commissioner of Police Mr. Alan Bissell and the Bermuda Police Service, Mr. Bissell commenced pre-retirement leave with effect from Monday, August 9, 1999.'' Mr. Bissell said last night: "I don't want to comment, other than to say there has certainly been no disagreement between Mr. Lemay and myself.'' Veteran officer Mr. Bissell is believed to have said he would quit the force after long negotiations over the succession plan for the top jobs. It is understood he was offered the vacant Deputy Commissioner's post by Governor Thorold Masefield -- but only for a year.

And the intention was then to cycle the force's four Superintendents in the Deputy's job to see who best fitted the bill.

The proposal is understood to have been the second succession plan suggested.

An earlier plan to have all four Superintendents and Mr. Bissell rotate as Deputy Commissioner foundered -- in part because it would have meant Mr.

Bissell working under lower-ranking officers.

Mr. Bissell served as Acting Assistant Commissioner for nearly a year before being confirmed in the post less than a year ago.

Former Deputy Commissioner Harold Moniz retired from the force earlier this year and his post has been vacant since then.

Mr. Bissell signed up with the Police Service 34 years ago as a Police constable. By the early eighties he was an Inspector and then Chief Inspector responsible for recruitment and training.