Assistant Superintendent (ASP) Tan Tat Ting, 26, an SPF Overseas Scholar, returned home in 2003, armed with a Master of Engineering (Aeronautical Engineering) degree from the University of London (Imperial College of Science & Technology).
After a nine-month course at the Police Academy that covered leadership modules, police procedures, law training, physical training, and weapons training, he was posted to the Bedok Police Division, which oversees the island's eastern districts, from Pasir Ris to Geylang.
'You are exposed to all kinds of things,' said ASP Tan, whose year-long investigative stint involved interviewing people at crime scenes, gathering evidence, chasing leads, and participating in anti-vice operations. He has even had to make those phone calls that everyone dreads to receive.
'I searched through the deceased's mobile phone and called his next of kin. I identified myself and kept it factual. I informed him that I had been called to the scene and that his relative had been involved in a fatal accident. At first, there was silence. The came a shocked 'Huh?' It was quite an experience. It's something I will never forget,' he said.
'I've led quite a sheltered life. In school, we are streamed from early on so the people you mix with are always the same kind of people. But as an investigation officer, you are exposed to a cross section of society and there are some people you would never imagine existed. You see a lot of things, from the plights of victims of crime to the arrogance of some demanding complainants. You become more mature, and I think you get better at reading people,' he added.
His hands-on introduction to law enforcement meant that he had to attend to cases ranging from petty theft to spousal abuse, child neglect, and suicide.
'You have to learn very fast. The first three months was very hectic as everything was new to me. But I had a lot of guidance from my supervisor and support from my colleagues. It didn't take long before I found my role as an investigator very rewarding.'
He added that being able to work well with the team is crucial because working alone is just not possible. Two other key factors for success in the police force are emotional intelligence and the right attitude, he reckoned.
'You have to be in here not just because you want to challenge yourself or to find a career for yourself. You must believe in what the SPF believes in and share its values. Otherwise, it will not be of any benefit to you or the force. Mushy as it sounds, you must really want to serve Singapore and to help people,' he said.
At times, helping people may take an obvious form, such as nabbing a suspect or recovering stolen property. Other times, the help one renders is on a different level.
ASP Tan is now a planning officer at the Traffic Police's policy, research and planning branch. His new role entails reviewing policies and legislation, keeping abreast of the latest statistics, writing papers, and providing research support and policy recommendations for Traffic Police's top management.
He also reviews suggestion and helps with requests for information from the public, from other ministries, and even from other countries, so that he can help formulate recommendations and responses.
'People have different views. Even for an issue such as whether bicycles should be ridden on the roads or on the pavements, there are many views and a range of considerations. And quite often, not everyone realises that there are so many sides to something that may seem simple. I'm learning how the Government makes its policies. It gives a lot of thought to these. It's all about balance. It's an intellectual challenge. This role is interesting in a different way,' he said.
ASP Tan's advice to would-be scholars is to attend talks and to speak to people from the organisation. To make sure that he knew what he was getting himself into, he attended several talks and even visited police divisions and met with officers and serving scholars.
'Keep an open mind and don't be fixated on any one thing. Learn about the organization and after you explore each organisation, choose the one for which you have the most passion,' he said.
The SPF Overseas Scholarship carries a six-year bond.
By Chan Seet Fun.