Let’s be honest – last week was politically charged with affairs between politicians, an ongoing corruption investigation and the death of a police officer. And while it might seem quiet on some fronts this week, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) issued a statement yesterday (July 24) seemingly to address the allegations in Sergeant Uvaraja Gopal’s final note before he took his life.
While the original post has been taken down, it has been shared widely online.
SGT Uvaraja Gopal, 35, died in hospital on Friday evening (July 21) after he was found lying motionless at the foot of a Housing Board block in Yishun. In his note, he mentioned that he had experienced workplace discrimination and racial slurs directed at him by colleagues.
The situation also led him to being denied promotions and transfers which further affected his unhappiness and mental health. One incident he brought up was inviting his colleagues to his wedding but no one turned up. He said that throughout the ordeal, he had tried to keep positive by exercising regularly and going for runs.
While he mentioned his friends who knew what he was going through in his note, Uvaraja also called out some of his colleagues who caused the most hurt in his time in the police force.
Accountability and allegations
Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam has visited the deceased officer’s wake in Yishun. In his capacity as an MP for Nee Soon GRC and also the one in charge of SPF as part of the Home Affairs portfolio, he said that he has spoken “with his family members” and “gave some background to his parents and brothers.”
He also endorsed the official statement that SPF put out saying that he is handling the matter and investigating the “serious allegations.”
“We will get to the bottom of it. And be accountable. We have a clear policy of non discrimination. All officers are entitled to be treated fairly. SPF as an organisation is committed to that principle. We will investigate the facts,” he said in his post.
Lack of compassion and “gaslighting”?
When the official statement by the SPF went live, many users on social media felt that it was defensive and the term “gaslight” was brought up quite a bit.
Some felt that it was a “smear campaign” to discredit Uvaraja and some saw through the statement and felt that it was not to express condolences but to set up defence for the SPF.
While these are just some of the common sentiments among the people, we felt that it was odd that there was a need to bring up specific incidents and cases where Uvaraja was not portrayed as his best.
Perhaps the worst bit is that Uvaraja is no longer around to speak up for himself after these “clarifications”.
In light of all these statements being put out, we consulted ChatGPT to craft a response from SPF that would be fair and balanced but also compassionate unlike the ironically robotic statement that was put out.
“As the Singapore Police Force, please write…”
PROMPT: From this post by the Singapore Police Force (attached) what would be a better worded statement that is fair and balanced regarding the death of an officer who had accused them of workplace bullying and racism as he had alleged in this suicide note (attached).
*words that express compassion are bold and italicised
We extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Sgt T120387 Uvaraja S/O Gopal, a dedicated officer who served with the Singapore Police Force. We are deeply saddened by his passing on 21 July 2023, and our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic loss.
We understand that there have been media queries regarding the circumstances surrounding Sgt Uvaraja’s passing and the concerns he raised in his suicide note. We want to assure the public that we take these matters seriously, and we are committed to conducting a thorough and impartial investigation into all the allegations made.
The Singapore Police Force is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in our organization. We strive to provide a work environment that is respectful, inclusive, and supportive of all our officers. Any form of workplace bullying, discrimination, or misconduct is not tolerated, and appropriate action will be taken to address any issues that are brought to our attention.
While we cannot comment on specific details at this early stage of the investigation, we want to emphasize that all complaints made by Sgt Uvaraja against his superiors and peers have been and will continue to be thoroughly investigated. We are committed to ensuring a fair and transparent process.
Regarding the allegations of racial discrimination raised by Sgt Uvaraja in the past, we acknowledge their significance. The Singapore Police Force takes a firm stance against racial discrimination, and we have reviewed these allegations previously. However, we understand the importance of conducting a fresh investigation to address any concerns that may arise.
In light of this tragic event, we recognize the importance of providing support and resources to our officers, particularly in terms of mental health and well-being. We are committed to strengthening the support systems available to our officers to ensure their welfare is prioritized.
As we move forward, we will provide regular updates on the progress of the investigation, and we promise to be transparent with our findings. It is essential that we honor Sgt Uvaraja’s memory by addressing the concerns he raised and working towards building a healthier and more inclusive work environment for all our officers.
Once again, we offer our deepest sympathies to Sgt Uvaraja’s family and friends during this difficult time. Let us come together as a community to support one another, and let us be resolute in our commitment to fostering a police force that values integrity, compassion, and respect.
Any red flags in the post by SPF?
When we were exploring ChatGPT, even AI could pick up certain nuances in the original post by the SPF, including a lack of empathy.
Among one of the issues in their post, it was the highlighting personal issues and including unrelated information that stood out the person.
A Facebook statement is hardly a place to disclose personal and potentially sensitive information about Sgt Uvaraja’s family disputes and legal matters. Revealing such details in an official statement raises privacy concerns and could be seen as inappropriate, especially when discussing a deceased individual.
On top of that, the post includes information about Sgt Uvaraja’s leave history and transfer requests, which might not be directly relevant to addressing the allegations of workplace bullying and racism. The inclusion of unrelated information could be seen as an attempt to distract from the main issues raised in the officer’s suicide note.
There are other things that raise concern as well like downplaying allegations and the delayed action on the racial discrimination allegations, but we can only hope that this case will be investigated thoroughly.
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