Jonathan Lim : Reflections on SPF’s Orientation Programme 2010

Jonathan Lim Eng Sze, Singapore Police Force Overseas Scholarship holder (2010)


Photo courtesy of Singapore Police Force






Accepting my SPFOS award from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Mr Wong Kan Seng at the Istana during the SPFOS Presentation Ceremony on 12 August 2010.





I’ve had an awesome week, unique from those of everyone else. Sitting right here in my chair at home after a long, tiring day, I glance back at the past seven days of my Singapore Police Force (SPF) orientation programme. I’m quite sure that my career with the Police Force will indeed be one interesting and exciting life journey.

The SPF orientation programme allowed me to visit a wide range of police establishments such as specialist units like the K-9 Dog Unit and Criminal Investigation Department, as well as land units like the Ang Mo Kio Police Division.

Before this programme started, I was a fresh and avid police scholar who barely knew much about the workings of the Singapore Police Force (SPF), and relied only on his innate interest in policing and law
enforcement to feed his wish for such a career. Right now, I have experienced so much over the past week, and I’m really glad to say that I’m ready for more when I return from my studies.

I realize that Singapore’s streets and neighbourhoods are safe due to the tough work that police officers do. This includes nabbing burglars, stopping violent gangsters and chasing down those who disrupt the peace of the neighbourhoods.



Photo courtesy of Jonathan Lim








Zhang Yi Tao (Right) and I (Left) on the National Day Parade grounds, where we had the opportunity of experiencing how the SPF ran the security operations for the entire event, whilst the public enjoyed the parade in peace.



The tactical forces are training hard to deter terrorists from even considering making this island nation one of their targets. The Airport Police Division scans through tons of luggage and surveys the entire airport area closely to ensure that it is one of the safest in the world.

Many other units and departments in the SPF are also working around the clock. If we are not there for the public, then who will?

I’m very excited. Excited because I know I will be in for a meaningful time, and I won’t have a boring moment as a police officer.



Photo courtesy of Jonathan Lim

 The SPF Scholars of 2010 and 2008 on attachment during the National Day Parade. “Going on attachments with the entire group of scholars has allowed us to bond quite well!” said Jonathan.




The SPF conducts a wide range of police operations, from maritime policing and counter-terrorism, to countering white-collar fraud and of course, the traditional evergreen honourable duty of fighting crime on the streets.

You don’t have that kind of diversity anywhere else, and no other career offers you the responsibility of keeping the country free of crime and free from harm.

Peers tell me that my years at university in the United States of America will be the best years of my life, but who is to say that the years spent in the Police Force after I return won’t be better?

In a week’s time, I will be leaving and I will make use of the time there to improve and develop myself into a better person for the Force, and for the country.

This has been a great start, and I’m looking forward to greater days!