Myers to retire as head of policing in Cork City division

Chief Superintendent Tom Myers, head of policing in the Cork City Garda division, is to retire tomorrow.

Chief Supt Myers took over as the head of policing in the division in November 2021, and his resignation comes in the same week as 48 new gardaí — 36 new recruits and 12 transfers — arrived in the city.

Chief Supt Myers had been outspoken in calling for increased resources during his time in the top job at Anglesea Street, and the recent allocation — the largest to the city in more than a quarter of a century — was seen as something of a victory for him.

A popular chief with his staff, his tenure has generally been viewed favourably in the city, but the amalgamation earlier this year of garda units at Douglas and Carrigaline, and Bishopstown and Ballincollig, a move necessitated by a lack of garda numbers, proved controversial.

A northsider born and reared, the Cathedral Rd native joined An Garda Síochána in 1984 and was posted around the country in different ranks.

“I was here in Cork, primarily,” Chief Supt Myers told The Echo in February 2022.

“I spent most of my time in the drug squad. I was a superintendent in Mayfield for a while, I was a super[intendent] here in Anglesea Street for a while, a chief in Kerry and a chief in Fermoy. I’ve been around the block.

“Generally speaking, though, I was Cork-based.”

Earlier this year, he told this newspaper: “Policing used to be about the gardaí before, but it’s not about us anymore.

“We can’t police the city unless we have all the stakeholders onside, and that’s a fact.

“We all have our part to play in keeping our city safe.”