Assistant Commissioner of Police -- but one of the leading candidates declined to go before the panel.

Supt. Gertrude Barker was grilled by Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay and Commissioner Designate Jonathan Smith in a bid to take the number three rank from April this year.

However, sources said yesterday that Det. Supt. Vic Richmond, who is one of the longest serving officers in the Bermuda Service, decided not to go for the interview.

It is believed he did not believe it was necessary for further interviews to be held as he was grilled during lengthy interviews just weeks ago for the Commissioner and Deputy's posts.

It is not now known whether Supt. Richmond's snub of the interview will take him out of the running for the post, or whether he will still be considered along with Supt. Barker.

Yesterday, both an official Police spokesman and Supt. Richmond declined to comment on the issue.

The spokesman said he could say nothing while the interview process for the assistant's job was still ongoing, and Supt. Richmond said "he would rather not comment''.

However, one source said he understood that Supt. Richmond did not know why he should have to go through another interview process, having already been interviewed less than four weeks ago.

And a second source, who also would not be named, said Supt. Richmond was one of the longest-serving officers in the force with a vast amount of experience who had shown what he was capable of over the years.

The source said: "He has a very good reputation as a Police officer and has shown what he is capable of through his work for years.'' Supt. Richmond has acted in the roles of both Deputy and Assistant Commissioner for some months on a rotation basis with fellow Superintendents Jonathan Smith, George Jackson and Gertrude Barker.

However, Supt. Smith has been given the job of Commissioner when Mr. Lemay completes his contract in April, and Supt. Jackson the position of Deputy, leaving Supts. Barker and Richmond the only candidates for the assistant's post.

The Royal Gazette reported yesterday that the new Assistant Commissioner is expected to be announced by the end of the month.

Interviews are also expected to be held to find replacement Superintendents among the present Chief Inspectors in the force. All interviews are being held within the force, but Governor Thorold Masefield must agree a recommendation for the Assistant Commissioner.