him the time is right for a home-grown Police Commissioner.

Four senior officers from the force -- Assistant Commissioner Harold Moniz, Det. Supt. Vic Richmond, Supt. Alan Bissell and Supt. Campbell Simons -- met the Governor last Friday morning, as predicted in The Royal Gazette last week.

It is understood the senior officers made a pitch for a Bermudian officer to be appointed in the wake of the resignation of English Police Commissioner Colin Coxall.

A spokesman for Government House said yesterday: "I can confirm that four senior members of the Bermuda Police Service called on the Governor at their request to express their views on the succession to Mr. Coxall.'' But the spokesman declined to discuss the content of the hour-long meeting. He said: "As it was a private meeting, I'm afraid I can't comment further.'' Mr. Moniz also declined to comment on the meeting when contacted yesterday, except to say it was cordial and "very positive''.

The same four visited then-Governor Lord Waddington in July last year, to express their concerns over the future management of the force following a decision by then-Deputy Commissioner Michael Mylod to return to England early.

Mr. Mylod was replaced by Jean-Jacques Lemay, seconded to the Bermuda force from his job as a Superintendent in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Mr. Coxall's shock announcement that he would be breaking his three-year contract five months early caused speculation over his successor.

Labour and Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness and Mr. Masefield are understood to be considering recruiting from points as far apart as Hong Kong, the UK, the Caribbean and Canada.

Conitnued on Page 3 Top officers meet with Masefield serving with the force could not be ruled out for the top job.

Yesterday, Mr. Edness said he was not aware of the content of the meeting and could not comment.

"It's not unusual for officers to wish to communicate with the Governor in light of all that's happened,'' he said. "I think a talk with His Excellency would generally be a good thing, although I have no idea of the content of the talks.'' Mr. Coxall slimmed down the force's senior management after his appointment, reducing the number of Assistant Commissioners from three to one. Mr. Bissell was at that time an Acting Assistant Commissioner.

Axed in the revamp were Assistant Commissioner Wayne Perinchief -- who later won a a court ruling that he had been illegally dismissed -- and Supt. George Rose.

Harold Moniz