Friend of Deceased SPF Officer in Yishun Alleged a CO Has Tried to “Fire” Him

Last Updated on 2023-07-25 , 12:32 pm

You’re probably already aware of the SPF officer who committed suicide on 21 July.

He left behind a lengthy Facebook post detailing the toxic work culture he experienced in the Singapore Police Force (SPF).

The original post has since been deleted but has been reposted by others.

One friend, assigned to be his paracounsellor, shared more details about the officer’s situation.

Allegedly, a Commanding Officer (CO) had tried to fire him at one point.

Reaction to Officer’s Death

On 22 July, Facebook user Raj Naga shared more about Sergeant Uvaraja Gopal’s plight.

According to him, Sgt Uvaraja had sent him a four-minute-long voice message the afternoon he committed suicide.

However, Raj could not respond to him immediately as he was out with family.

By the time he could call Sgt Uvaraja back, it was already too late.

Raj wrote, “When I listened to his voice message in full later that night, my heart broke listening to him desperately crying about everything he had faced in the recent months. I could hear the despair and anguish in his voice.

“I will forever bear the cross for not calling him back immediately.”

Sharing that Sgt Uvaraja had asked him to share the truth of what he had faced in SPF, Raja expressed that the deceased officer was “highly disciplined” and “deeply passionate about policing and fighting crime”.

Shared About Officer’s Experience

Before continuing, Raj added a disclaimer that his sharing was based on his interactions with Sgt Uvaraja.

For context, Raj was a Senior Paracounsellor at Ang Mo Kio Police Division assigned to Sgt Uvaraja.

He recalled that he first met Sgt Uvaraja while he was serving his National Service as a patrol officer in 2007.

He shared that Sgt Uvaraja served with a group of officers dubbed “legends due to their crime-busting skills”.

According to Raj, this stint inspired Sgt Uvaraja to sign on.

He even worked hard to attain a gold IPPT standard to make his application stand out.

In 2012, Sgt Uvaraja fulfilled his dreams and was posted to Ang Mo Kio Police Division.

However, the joy was short-lived.

Raj noted that Sgt Uvaraja was transferred to patrol duties at Ang Mo Kio North Neighbourhood Police Station.

Raj had a secondary appointment as a Senior Paracounsellor at this time.

In December 2015, Sgt Uvaraja approached him for help with his work-related struggles.

Raj was assigned to be his paracounsellor and was meant to “provide a listening ear and guide him towards developing his own solutions”.

Clashes with Superior Officers

Due to his struggles at work, Sgt Uvaraja had anxiety attacks and difficulties sleeping.

His struggles were made worse as he was caring for his mother at the same time.

She was recovering from a brain injury.

According to Raj, Sgt Uvaraja had gotten into an argument with his Team Leader over a racial slur.

He reported the incident to his CO.

However, his teammates failed to back up his claims, and his Team Leader was not held accountable.

Feeling outcasted, Sgt Uvaraja requested to transfer out, but it was rejected.

Raj noted that besides facing sleep and anxiety issues, Sgt Uvaraja took no-pay leave to care for his mother.

He also underwent two surgeries for a lump on his leg and a deviated septum in his nose.

Allegedly, his CO called him back to the office in December 2015 when he was on medical leave and “questioned the validity of his medical conditions, used vulgarities against him and shouted at him to resign”.

This incident stressed Sgt Uvaraja out, leading to an investigation against the CO.

Raj shared that the officer wanted to transfer to another department and was even assured by the Division Deputy Commander that the transfer would be approved.

However, the transfer was rejected as Sgt Uvaraja received a poor performance grade.

This caused his morale to drop even further.

Due to his medical conditions, he extended his leave till April 2016.

At this time, Raj had referred Sgt Uvaraja’s situation to the Police Psychological Services Division.

During this trying time, the Division Commander apparently attempted to fire him.

The employment termination was denied as Sgt Uvaraja’s medical issues were genuine.

The Divison Commander referred him to the Internal Affairs Office for investigation because he didn’t stay indoors during medical leave.

In reality, he was on no-pay leave.

No further action was taken against him, but the incident worsened his morale and sleep issues.

Raj’s Opinion

Raj shared, “I struggle to relive the bitter memories and the sheer abuse of authority he faced. It is a testament to Raja’s strong resolve and mental fortitude that he endured the prolonged surveillance throughout his recovery from his surgeries.

“But there is only so much that the human mind can take.”

He shared that Sgt Uvaraja’s determination stemmed from his desire to care for his wheelchair-bound mother.

Sgt Uvaraja didn’t have an easy time growing up either.

He had to deal with an alcoholic father who left the family in debt, prompting him to work part-time as a car washer in secondary school to earn his own pocket money.

What Raj found “mind-boggling” was the fact that despite everything that happened, Sgt Uvaraja was posted back to the same CO who continued his abusive behaviour long after Raj had left the SPF.

Raj added, “Raja may have made mistakes during his time in the force, but who hasn’t? Everything he ever did as a Police Officer was in pursuit of ideals he held dear.”

Raj felt that Sgt Uvaraja would have been rewarded in a perfect society.

However, he had “destroyed his career” when he first “blew the whistle against his superiors”.

Raj said, “When I first became a Police Officer, I was taught to always hope and pray that my colleagues and I would have long, fulfilling careers without injury and death.”

He added, “Somewhere along the way, we stopped looking out for each other and became obsessed with our own careers.”

In tribute to the deceased officer, Raj said, “Raja left us wearing his full operational uniform. He embodied the ideology of CLIF for as long as he could.

“He showed Courage in the face of discrimination, he was unwaveringly Loyal to the force, his Integrity never faltered even when he was shamed, and his Fairness towards his fellow officer was not reciprocated.

“Farewell, Sgt T120387. See you at the end of the shift.”

The Officer’s Death will be Thoroughly Investigated

36-year-old Sgt Uvaraja was found lying motionless at the bottom of Block 393 Yishun Avenue 6 on 21 July evening.

He was taken to the hospital, where he passed away.

Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said the circumstances surrounding Sgt Uvaraja’s death will be thoroughly investigated.

Speaking to reporters at Sgt Uvaraja’s wake on 23 July, he added that the police would lose the people’s confidence if the case is not investigated thoroughly.

Mr Shanmugam noted that 40% of police officers are from minority races.

He attended the wake as an MP for Nee Soon GRC and said his visit was to bring closure to Sgt Uvaraja’s family.

According to Mr Shanmugam, the officer’s family had been unaware of his troubles.

He added, “The brothers, the mother, father, they hadn’t realised a lot of things. So I spent some time talking to them and explained, so I think they have a better understanding.”

He declined to elaborate further.

Sgt Uvaraja’s family declined to speak to reporters.

His childhood friends told reporters that the officer had always wanted to be a police officer.

People Coming Forward with Toxic Work Culture Experiences

Using the hashtag #timeforchangesg, others have been coming forward with their experiences with toxic work environments.

A Facebook user named Fauzella Sahabdin shared that Sgt Uvaraja’s death reminded her of her bad memories in the SPF.

Another Instagram user shared her experience working in the civil service.

She said the stress from the toxic work culture caused her severe migraines.

She added, “I sincerely hope we can come together and ensure that such toxic workplaces and abuse of power are a thing of the past. 

“Please step up and do what is necessary for your mental health and your subordinates’ wellness. Please do the right thing and don’t misuse your authority.”

Some shared their experiences with Raj through private messages, who reposted these encounters and censored the original posters’ names.

On 24 July, Raj posted another Facebook post thanking those who have shown support and love after his initial post sharing Sgt Uvaraja’s truth.

He said, “I wasn’t prepared for the hundreds of notifications, friend requests and messages, but I tried to respond to as many as I could.”

Noting that he will be taking a break from the situation, he added, “I trust that SPF will investigate the matter thoroughly and not shy away from losing everyone who bullied Raja.”

In closing, he said, “Thank you again to everyone who messaged me with their stories. I shared what I could, but if I have not posted your story on my page, I strongly urge you to use the hashtag #timeforchangesg and post your own truths.”