Masked cop angers bosses

Masked cop angers bosses

BANGKOK (AP): A Thai traffic policeman narrowly escaped suspension after he wore a Halloween-type mask last week while directing rush hour traffic on a major Bangkok thoroughfare, police said.

Police Cpl. Nikhom Krutkaew is well-known among his coworkers for his sense of humor, said one of his colleagues at the Dusit Police station.

"It was one hot afternoon and he bought a 20-baht witch's mask and put it on," said the fellow officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Believe it or not, it helped commuters laugh despite the bad traffic. But obviously, our bosses were not amused. They said he acted improperly."

Nikhom came to his superiors' attention because a television crew happened to pass by and filmed his antics, which were later broadcast.

Nikhom's supervisors ordered him to behave and put away the mask or be suspended from work.