DCP Florence Chua reflects on three decades of service.
By: Leow Su Ling and Christabelle Lim
Not only was she the first woman to hold the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in the Singapore Police Force (SPF), DCP Florence Chua was also the first female Director of the Criminal Investigation Department and Police Intelligence Department.
In August 2022, over 100 female officers gathered at the Senior Police Officer’s Mess for a fireside chat with DCP Chua. The hall buzzed with excitement as officers from across the SPF gathered to hear from DCP Chua, who’s highly regarded for her leadership and had just announced her retirement after 33 years in the SPF. She reflected on her three decades in service.
Early Years
DCP Chua understands that it takes practice to build resilience. Having joined the SPF in 1989, she was also a member of the national women’s hockey team from 1980 to 1989. DCP Chua can still recall a match – 25 years before – when her team lost in the Southeast Asian Games.
As captain, she felt responsible for the loss and couldn’t sleep well that night. How did she pick herself up again?
“Give yourself a timeline – two days – to stop thinking about what went wrong, unless people ask you to share about it,” she quipped to laughter from the audience. “There will always be some disappointment in your life. Don’t keep looking back on it. Instead, put in your best effort, and this will be recognised.”
Anything’s Possible
Having taken on a range of frontline appointments during her career, DCP Chua shared that the SPF has come a long way in terms of the pathways and roles available to women officers.
“Today, anything is possible – as long as you put your mind to it,” she said. “The SPF provides the necessary training to all its officers, and selects people based on merit and the best fit.”
Three Principles
As a veteran investigator, DCP Chua has worked on cases ranging from murder and kidnapping to armed robbery. Her focus was always to bring offenders to justice. To do this, she noted three principles that she held close to her heart.
First, have a strong moral compass. According to DCP Chua, every SPF officer must “know what’s right and wrong, and always do the right thing.”
The second principle is the ability to adapt. “The only constant in life is change,” she explained. “So it’s vital for officers to be flexible and adaptable to change, so that we’re prepared to handle new challenges.”
Last but not least, DCP Chua reminded the officers that we all have some measure of resilience: “It’s important to take care of oneself, both mentally and physically, due to the demanding work that Police officers do.”
The Question on Everyone’s Mind
When it came time for DCP Chua to take questions from the assembled officers, she offered replies with a light touch.
“Ma’am, may we know what your retirement plans are?” an officer asked towards the end of the fireside chat.
“I want to spend time with my family and loved ones,” DCP Chua answered with a smile.
Asked what she’ll miss the most from her policing days, DCP Chua shared that soon after joining the SPF, it had become a big family for her. “So, I’ll miss the camaraderie,” she said.
Certainly, the SPF will miss a dedicated and caring leader in DCP Chua. We thank her for her dedication and wish her all the best!
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