Bermuda Police three years ago is to be the third man in a major probe into the force's drugs squad, it was revealed yesterday.

Her Majesty's Inspector of Dependent Territories Police Forces Lionel Grundy completes the three-man Commission of Inquiry team, which will be sworn in at Government House on Monday.

The English officer will join Dominica-born former Bermuda Court of Appeal judge Telford Georges and ex-Cabinet Secretary Kenneth Richardson.

Confirming Mr. Grundy's appointment yesterday, Deputy Governor Peter Willis said: "Mr. Grundy is an experienced Police officer with extensive experience and extensive knowledge of overseas policing.

The move comes despite a call from Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister Alex Scott for two Bermudians and a top-ranking Police officer -- but from the Caribbean or elsewhere, rather than the UK.

Mr. Willis said: "Mr. Grundy has not only experience in Dependent Territories -- he has worked in independent countries, including Caribbean countries.

"He is eminently well-qualified to contribute to the work of the Commission -- it's rather an advantage that he already knows the Police Service in Bermuda.'' Mr. Grundy's report was never made public -- but he recommended at least one top officer should be brought in from the UK who could bring the force up-to-date with modern management and policing methods.

Police Commissioner Colin Coxall and then Deputy Commissioner Michael Mylod were recruited from English forces shortly afterwards.

The Government House view was backed by Labour and Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness, who ordered the probe a month ago and who welcomed Mr.

Grundy's selection.

Mr. Edness said: "He is a highly experienced professional officer and he knows how to deal with matters of discipline and how to be objective. I look forward to him being part of the investigative team looking into the drugs squad.

"I'm sure that his presence will make a very valuable contribution to looking into any problems in this area -- he has enormous experience and a high degree of professionalism and objectivity.'' And Mr. Edness added: "Very often Mr. Grundy makes a report which is not always favourable, but the forces involved do try and put into place his recommendations, which are always quite beneficial.'' The Commission of Inquiry was announced by Mr. Edness in the House of Assembly last month and was prompted by events surrounding the acquittal of Ellsworth Wilson on drugs charges.

The case against Mr. Wilson collapsed after whistle-blowing Det. Cons. Lendrea Davis claimed she had been pressured by other officers to change her written statements to match those of other officers involved in the investigation.

Trial judge Norma Wade praised the woman detective -- who resigned from the force shortly after the trial ended -- for showing "tremendous courage'' in the face of severe pressure.

Mr. Wilson walked free from Supreme Court after being acquitted on charges of possessing and handling more than $50,000 worth of heroin and having the drug with intent to supply last year.

Mrs. Justice Wade directed the jury to return formal not guilty verdicts on all the charges, ruling the continuity of evidence had not been maintained.

And she slammed the drugs squad handling of the case as "the most reprehensible conduct'' she had ever seen and added that "it brought the entire Police force into disrepute.'' Grundy to help inquiry Mr. Scott was yesterday off the Island and unavailable for comment. Opposition leader Jennifer Smith said that Government had sought someone with a Police background.

But she added: "I don't know whether or not that is as vital to this inquiry as they seem to think.'' And she said: "There are other persons with a Police background who have had no contact and who would therefore come to Bermuda with a more objective view than Mr. Grundy.'' But she added: "The important thing is that the Bermuda public feel that the inquiry is conducted in the most objective manner possible and they would feel they were getting a true representation of the facts and not a cover-up.''