Police chief calls time on career
Greece’s top policeman, Lieutenant General Giorgos Angelakos, said on Saturday that he was stepping down to make way at the top of the force for a new generation of officers. Angelakos, head of the Greek police (ELAS) tendered his resignation late Friday but explained in a letter made public on Saturday that he had decided to leave his post six months early after serving in a number of top positions within the force. He joined in 1972 and has headed the Attica police drugs squad. He was made Attica police chief in 2002. He replaced Fotis Nasiakos as head of ELAS in October 2004, after the Athens Olympics. However, sources told Kathimerini that Angelakos decided to step aside after the new public order minister, Vyron Polydoras, informed the ELAS chief that he intended to replace him. The two men agreed that Angelakos would resign to prevent Polydoras having to change legislation to replace him. Angelakos was criticized last month after a prisoner escaped during a transfer and shot dead two guards.
