Two of Bermuda's top Police officers are being forced to retire early, sources told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

They are Assistant Commissioner Wayne Perinchief and Supt. George Rose, sources said.

Neither man returned telephone calls yesterday, but Mr. Perinchief has reportedly sought legal advice.

Deputy Commissioner Michael Mylod did not deny the report, but refused to comment "at this time.'' Commissioner Colin Coxall, who pleged in his Police Service Strategy to cut top management by 40 percent, was off the Island, attending a conference in Canada.

While not confirming which officers were involved, Labour and Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness confirmed two senior officers had been sent letters and the time they were given to respond to the letters had not lapsed.

As the Police Service is "streamlined'' and restructured, "the situation is probably going to get worse before it gets better,'' Mr. Edness said.

"We recognise there are other changes that have to be made,'' he said. "Some people will probably be shifted to other jobs, others will be retired or made redundant. It depends on the assessment that takes place.

"We have to stick to a plan that is going to improve the efficiency of the force,'' he said. "I can't help but feel some sympathy for the people affected. We will ensure that they're treated fairly in this particular process.'' Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister Alex Scott condemned the move, saying, "it's very much like having a war on crime and removing the generals.'' Mr. Scott said he met with Mr. Coxall about a month ago and voiced strong objections to "this aspect of his plan.'' Mr. Coxall felt the Bermuda Police Service was so topheavy that its complement of senior officers could handle a force of 5,000 officers in the United Kingdom, he said.

"It's my understanding, and I stand to be corrected, that Mr. Perinchief has been told any future employment he wants will have to be found elsewhere, that he has no future as far as I can tell now in the Bermuda Police force.

"His post has been made redundant,'' Mr. Scott said.

But it was officers like Mr. Perinchief, 54, who had the local knowledge that was needed to solve crimes, he said. He noted Mr. Perinchief also had a Masters Degree in Management and Human Resource Development from Webster University and had trained abroad in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

The Opposition would "strenuously resist this move,'' he said. "The public can anticipate a full-blooded debate on December 15 when we hope to debate the Commissioner's strategy in Parliament.'' Assistant Commissioner Harold Moniz was reportedly staying on, although Mr.

Scott described his future as "very shaky.'' "You're going to be left with a foreign hierarchy,'' he said.

Mr. Coxall and Mr. Mylod, both from England, started in January on three-year and two-year contracts respectively.

Also yesterday, Mr. Mylod announced that P.c. Michael Jackman had been promoted to sergeant.

Sgt. Jackman, 36, joined the Police in 1982, having come from Barbados. He has served as a uniform officer in St. George's and Somerset, in the traffic division, and in children and juvenile services. He currently works at Hamilton Police Station.

Sgt. Jackman is married and lives in Southampton with his wife and two-year-old son.

FORCED TO RETIRE -- Supt. George Rose (left) and Assistant Commissioner Wayne Perinchief.