The Governor could ask Police Commissioner George Jackson to retire next year as part of a shake-up of top posts within the Bermuda Police Service.

The jobs of Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner and two Assistant Commissioners, all require new blood by the end of 2009 due to retirement and completion of contracts.

Yesterday, Superintendent Mike DeSilva was sworn in as Deputy Police Commissioner, an appointment which Governor Sir Richard Gozney described as "step one" of a series of changes at the top level.

"All four jobs are changing in the space of 15 months," Sir Richard said.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Carlton Adams, is due to retire by the end of this year, while fellow Assistant Bryan Bell is due to be replaced mid-2009. The man in the top job, George Jackson, is also due to retire by the end of 2009, after four years' service as Commissioner.

Sir Richard said yesterday he hoped Mr. Jackson would welcome the opportunity to retire.

"I believe quite strongly that no one should be able to do his job for more than four years, because it's a tough job," said Sir Richard.

"We will have to see how things are looking early next year, but if everything went well, I'd like to say to George Jackson 'thanks very much' and arrange for him to hand over by the end of next year, so he would be allowed to put his feet up."

Sir Richard added that he would prefer to see the top posts occupied by Bermudians or long-term residents rather than expatriates.

"I would much rather see the senior levels of the Bermuda Police Service staffed by those within the Service, by people of the Island – either Bermudians or long-term residents, because I think the change and development they can bring to the Service would be very long-lasting.

"I've not said there will never be a question of bringing in an expatriate but over the next few months, if we can do it from within the Bermuda Police Service, that will create a sounder basis for the Service."

Yesterday, Mr. Jackson also expanded on the overseas contingent of around 20 officers who have been drafted in – an announcement made by Public Safety Minister Senator David Burch on Wednesday. Sen. Burch told the Senate: "In light of the nature of their tasking, I shall not comment further, but suffice to say they shall work alongside our officers so that their expertise can be shared."

Yesterday, the Commissioner declined to comment on their origin or rank, but said the officers were assisting the Bermuda Police Service with "at least half a dozen" unsolved murders.

"We have some assistance from overseas to help us in some technical areas and procedures of serious crime investigation, such as cold cases," said Mr. Jackson.

"They are not here as investigators but to give us advice. It is a standard practice in all police environments that you will have someone come and look at your procedures, especially when you have cases that have progressed to a certain stage and you have to see if you have missed anything.

"We are just looking for some additional input as to whether there are any more possible productive lines of inquiry, because a case isn't closed until there is some resolution to it."

Rebecca Middleton, the 17-year-old Canadian tourist raped and murdered in 1996, is not however among those cases being re-examined.

"This was dealt with in the Judicial Review and processes already," said Mr. Jackson.

"We are looking at other murders, unsolved murders that have not been brought before the courts. It is the most recent ones such as Jason Lightbourne, and any other one we feel we need to look at."

Mr. Lightbourne, 18, was shot dead in Ord Road, Paget, on July 23, 2006.