the post next month, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

Mr. Bissell -- whose own rank is Superintendent -- is odds-on favourite to take the number three spot in the force.

And, according to Government insiders, the Public Service Commission will meet early in May and rubber-stamp Mr. Bissell's application.

One source said: "He is a very good candidate for the job. There are a couple of good candidates, but he is definitely the most likely.

"He has very good administrative skills and I suppose the smart money must be on him.'' The appointment would mean a clean sweep by all the officers acting up a rank since ex-Commissioner Colin Coxall quit the force last October.

Last week, Acting Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay and Acting Deputy Commissioner Harold Moniz were confirmed in the two top jobs by Governor Thorold Masefield.

Mr. Lemay -- rated "a copper's copper'' by the rank-and-file -- will extend his secondment from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for three years, while Bermudian Mr. Moniz was appointed to a permanent position.

And Mr. Lemay pledged to help prepare Bermudian officers for the force's hotseat before he returns to his own force.

The Assistant Commissioner is not appointed by the Governor, but by the Public Service Commission, acting on the advice of the Commissioner of Police.

But Mr. Lemay, minutes after being appointed last week, was playing his cards close to his chest on the crucial Assistant Commissioner's post.

He said: "Mr. Bissell is Acting Assistant Commissioner and we will be looking at filling that position in the near future.'' Mr. Lemay added: "The recommendation will be based on the process which is still in place -- it will go to the Public Service Commission for review and they will make a recommendation.'' The most senior officers available for the post are Supt. Vic Richmond, currently head of the CID, and Supt. Campbell Simons, in charge of Central Division, as well as Mr. Bissell.

But Mr. Simons is understood to be considering retirement and would likely rule himself out of contention.

There is also an option to allow a younger, more junior officer of Chief Inspector's rank to leapfrog the Superintendent level and land in the Assistant Commissioner's chair.

But insiders believe Mr. Lemay is unlikely to take that route, preferring a more experienced and senior officer for the important role of Assistant Commissioner. Mr. Bissell has served in the Bermuda force for around 30 years and holds Bermudian status.

Last May, he became officer-in-charge of Specialist Operations, responsible for traffic, operational planning, technology, prosecutions and the Marine Section. He took over the Acting Assistant Commissioner's job in October last year.

Mr. Bissell also co-ordinated the planned `eye in the sky' closed circuit TV surveillance system for Hamilton. Previously, he was head of the force's Management Support team.

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