Bermuda's top detective, Superintendent Vic Richmond, is understood to have given notice of his retirement -- just days after he was turned down for the post of Assistant Commissioner.

The 34-year veteran -- believed to be bitterly disappointed after being by-passed for the number three job -- is said to have voiced his intention to stand down this week.

But a Police spokesman would neither confirm nor deny the resignation yesterday, only saying: "We have no comment right now.'' A senior source said the Scottish investigator, who is in his mid 50s and joined the Bermuda Force in September 1966, was definitely not resigning.

The source said: "I understand there are indications that he has decided to retire. He is eligible for retirement. As far as I know, he is not resigning.'' Another source said: "Superintendent Richmond is retiring. We heard about it a few days ago. He is quitting.'' Another officer expressed sorrow and hinted Mr. Richmond could have contributed further to the evolving service.

The source told The Royal Gazette : "If it is true, we are losing a wealth of information on crime and procedural matters.'' In recent years Det. Supt. Richmond was one of four superintendents working directly beneath Police Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay, in rotating acting positions of deputy and assistant commissioner.

They were being deliberately trained for the senior ranks in preparation of Mr. Lemay's imminent departure this coming April.

The four superintendents, including Jonathan Smith, George Jackson and Gertrude Barker, were interviewed for the top two posts in December.

However, Mr. Richmond was snubbed, with Jonathan Smith being announced commissioner designate and George Jackson as his deputy.

But The Royal Gazette learned that Mr. Richmond had then refused to be interviewed a second time for the post of assistant commissioner, with sources claiming he did not believe it was necessary for either him or Ms Barker to be grilled again.

Whether he was still considered for the post after his refusal to attend, is not known.

But in a twist this week, ranked outsider Detective Chief Inspector Carlton (Sockie) Adams, who has worked directly below Mr. Richmond, was named as the new Assistant Commissioner.

The news was bound to come as a blow for both Mr. Richmond and Ms Barker, who had both received on and off-the-job training for the post.

At the official announcement of Mr. Adams' promotion this week, Commissioner Mr. Lemay said there was bound to be a certain amount of disappointment on the parts of Superintendents Richmond and Barker.

But he said they were both considered very much valued members of the team.

VSB reported earlier this week that one of the two snubbed officers was seeking legal advice -- but there has been nothing to back up that claim since.

Senior detective to quit A Scottsman, Mr. Richmond came to Bermuda after serving with the Stirling and Clackmannan Police and had become a Chief Inspector by 1990 and reached Superintendent by 1994.

In addition to receiving the Colonial Police Medal in 1998 and a Long Service Medal, Mr. Richmond was a cornerstone of countless Criminal Investigation Division cases throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

Outside of crime fighting Mr. Richmond was the subject of a long running court case over the eviction of officers from former Police housing at Alexandria Road.

Mr. Richmond fought the BHC which had taken over the property and wanted to upgrade the buildings to add to the Island's housing stock.

While he won an appeal in the Court of Appeal the case was sent back down to Magistrates' Court.

In 1999 it was decided that a "good faith'' agreement in 1993 was not strong enough for Mr. Richmond to stay in the building until his retirement.

Mr. Richmond was forced to pay court costs to the BHC and he was ordered to move out of the home he had lived in since 1970.

Yesterday, Superintendent Richmond was off work sick and The Royal Gazette was unable to contact him at home.

Vic Richmond