Police officer who alleged workplace bullying before death was offered help for 'substantial' work challenges: SPF

SINGAPORE: A police officer who made allegations of racism and workplace bullying before he died had faced "substantial challenges at work", for which his superiors had offered help, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said on Monday (Jul 24).

Sergeant Uvaraja Gopal, 35, died in hospital on Friday evening after he was found lying motionless at the foot of a Housing Board block in Yishun. The police do not suspect foul play.

In a Facebook post that was later removed, SGT Uvaraja said he had been bullied by his superiors and subjected to ethnic slurs by his teammates – claims that Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said on Friday that the police would investigate thoroughly.

Addressing the claims of racial discrimination, SPF said on Monday that SGT Uvaraja had made allegations back in 2015, adding that these were looked into and found to be unsubstantiated.

On the complaints that he made against his superiors and peers over the years, SPF said they had been investigated and dealt with. But some of them are being investigated again in light of his latest allegations.

SGT Uvaraja had served with the police for more than 10 years and was last an officer with Ang Mo Kio Police Division.

"At this point, we can set out only the known facts, as not all the relevant facts have been established. It is also inappropriate for the police to make any comments, or come to any conclusions, pending detailed investigations," the police said on Monday.

CHALLENGES FACED AT WORK

SPF said that SGT Uvaraja's superiors had assessed that he was facing "substantial challenges at work" and tried to help him in a number of ways. 

These included coaching to address his performance issues. He was also granted transfers, at his request, to six different work units in nine years.

SPF said he was also granted additional leave since 2015 beyond his usual entitlements.

For example, he was at work for fewer than 30 days last year as he was on various types of leave, including extended sick leave, unrecorded leave and no pay leave. In 2023, he had been at work for fewer than 25 days, for similar reasons.

His supervisors had arranged for counselling and "psychological assistance" for him at various points in his service from 2016, said SPF.

In January this year, he was assigned a para-counsellor after he reported experiencing work stress.

On Feb 16, he reported to a new unit - following his request for a transfer - and "showed signs of being unstable", said SPF. 

"He was counselled by a para-counsellor on the same day, and later attended to by a psychologist from the Police Psychological Services Department. Due to safety concerns, he was relieved from carrying firearms from Feb 16, 2023."

COMPLAINTS AGAINST OTHER OFFICERS

The police noted that SGT Uvaraja had made a number of complaints against his superiors and peers over the years, and that all of these have been investigated and dealt with.

Some of them are being investigated again, in the light of the allegations which he made just before his death, said SPF.

In August 2021, SGT Uvaraja alerted his supervisors that he had spotted other officers vaping within the police compound. 

An independent supervisor was tasked to search for e-cigarettes and vaping devices within the station premises and interview the officers concerned. "The complaint was not made out, thus no disciplinary action was taken," said SPF.

In January this year, while in a different police unit, the officer alerted his supervisors that he spotted other officers smoking. Investigations found evidence of this and disciplinary action was taken against these officers.

"Following both incidents, his supervisors facilitated his request to transfer to another unit to start afresh, as he felt uncomfortable working with the colleagues he had reported on," said SPF.

RACIAL DISCRIMINATION CLAIMS

In his last Facebook post, SGT Uvaraja alleged racial discrimination at work.

The police said they were aware of allegations he made in 2015 but found the claims to be unsubstantiated. 

"We had looked into these and interviewed the officers involved. The allegations were found to be unsubstantiated," said SPF, adding that it will nevertheless review and investigate the allegations again.

Findings will be referred to the Attorney-General's Chambers.

"The findings will also be submitted to the Minister for Home Affairs, for his decision on whether the findings should be further reviewed," said the police.

SPF said it takes a firm stance against racial discrimination.

It stressed that there are avenues for police officers to raise complaints on discriminatory workplace practices - to their unit commanders, police headquarters or the ministry headquarters - adding that such complaints are looked into seriously.

TENSIONS WITH HIS FAMILY

In their statement on Monday, the police said interviews showed that SGT Uvaraja had "tensions with his family".

On Jul 13, the police received multiple calls for help at his parents' home. When officers arrived, the sergeant was in a dispute with his family over financial matters.

He had also allegedly assaulted his brother.

"As a result, the police commenced investigations against him for a case of voluntarily causing hurt and intentional harassment. This was a pending case," said SPF.

A day later, the sergeant's mother lodged a police report against him, saying she feared for her safety. This was followed by a call for police assistance later in the day by SGT Uvaraja's sister-in-law that he was outside her house. He left the area after the police arrived.

SPF said it had informed SGT Uvaraja's parents and brothers that the information above will be disclosed. 

"They have expressed their understanding on the release of the information," it added.

On Sunday, Mr Shanmugam and Member of Parliament Derrick Goh paid their respects at SGT Uvaraja's wake held in Yishun. Both are MPs for Nee Soon GRC.

"In the GRC ... our practice is that the MPs, when they know of a wake, and they are able to, they go for the wake," Mr Shanmugam told reporters, adding that the focus should be on the family and their grieving process.

"I told them, as I've said in my post, there will be a thorough investigation."