yesterday with the swearing in of Mr. Michael Mylod as Deputy Commissioner.

Mr. Mylod, who arrived on the Island from England on Tuesday, took his oaths before Governor Lord Waddington in a brief ceremony at Government House.

He joins Commissioner Mr. Colin Coxall, who was sworn in last Thursday after serving as assistant commissioner of the City of London Police since 1989.

The top British officers replace two Bermudians -- Commissioner Mr. Lennett (Lennie) Edwards and Deputy Commissioner Mr. Alex Forbes. Both are retiring, Mr. Edwards earlier than expected, due to illness.

The Governor's decision, supported by Government, to look overseas to fill the resulting leadership "vacuum'' in the Police became a highly-charged political issue. The Progressive Labour Party argued the top posts should have gone to Bermudian Assistant Commissioners Mr. Wayne Perinchief and Mr. Harold Moniz.

Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade took a 6,000-name petition opposing the overseas hiring to London, and later to Government House.

Government has said the short-term contracts will allow for grooming of Bermudian successors. Mr. Coxall is in Bermuda for three years, Mr. Mylod for two.

Policeman Mylod sworn in Mr. Mylod, 57, who was second in command of the 3,000-strong Police force in the southern English county of Hampshire, said he was looking beyond the controversy.

"I'm very excited,'' to be in Bermuda, he told reporters. "It's a challenge -- there's a job to be done.'' His main job would be to support Mr. Coxall, with special responsibilities for complaints and discipline, development and training, and public relations.

Mr. Mylod, 57, who made his first visit to Bermuda when he was interviewed by the Public Service Commission in January, said he found the Island "astonishingly beautiful'', and the people friendly. His wife is to join him in Bermuda soon.

A Police officer for 30 years, Mr. Mylod was deputy chief constable in Hampshire since 1988.

He also served in Northern Rhodesia -- now Zambia -- for eight years while in his 20s.

Another controversy burst after Labour Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman told a public meeting Mr. Mylod had served in Southern Rhodesia in the 1960s.

The PLP said that made Mr. Mylod an inappropriate choice for deputy Commissioner, having propped up a racist colonial regime.

Mr. Pearman later admitted he had made a mistake.

When he returned to England from Northern Rhodesia, Mr. Mylod joined the Devon Constabulary in April 1965, rising to the rank of chief superintendent over the next 19 years.

As a superintendent, he commanded a specialised crime prevention unit with heavy emphasis on community policing.

In 1984, he was named assistant chief constable to the Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

Mr. Mylod also had a stint with the Royal Navy from 1955 to 1957.

MR. MICHAEL MYLOD -- Deputy Police Commissioner.