The Chief Constable of the RUC, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, said he will be staying at the head of Northern Ireland's police service until or beyond November.
On Sky television Sir Ronnie said he was "very committed" to implementing the recommendations of the Patten report into the future of policing in the North.
November has been set as the target date for the full introduction of the recommendations unveiled 18 months ago.
Yesterday marked the implementation of the first major recommendation of the Patten report as the RUC was reorganised into 29 district command units mirroring the structure of local government.
The Chief Constable said: "Once they [the Patten recommendations] are in place then it will be time for me to consider my position.
"I am very committed to those changes and I am determined to see those changes in place."
Asked to confirm reports in the media that he had told friends he would be staying at the head of the RUC for 12 months after the November target, Sir Ronnie replied: "I would say certainly until beyond November but I have not given it much thought about how much further beyond November."