Household objects rained down from the sky, shattering on the ground below. A man was hurling suitcases, clothing and other household items from a high floor of a Housing & Development Board (HDB) block of flats where he lived.
Superintendent of Police (Supt) James Goh, who was then a Commanding Officer (CO) at Rochor Neighbourhood Police Centre, was responsible for managing the incident on the ground.
“This person appeared to be having a mental breakdown and was throwing things out of the window,” recalls Supt Goh, 32. “Our officers had to cordon off the area below his flat so no one would get hurt.”
Supt Goh had to decide whether to make a forced entry into the unit, which required breaking down the door. It was a daunting decision-making process, but thankfully, he was able to consult with trained negotiators on-site and experienced officers on their assessment of the person’s state of mind.
As the man did not respond to the Police’s attempts to speak to him, Supt Goh made the call to break into the unit and restrain him, resolving the incident.
“In my policing career, I’ve found that there is always someone who can help you and encourage you along the way,” he says.
“Someone always has your back, and this really helps when dealing with the demands of Police work.”
Supt Goh first noticed the sense of fraternity within the Singapore Police Force (SPF) while exploring scholarships during his time at Raffles Junior College. He had the opportunity to shadow Police units and observe what their daily work was like.
“What struck me was how everyone I spoke to in the SPF was trying to achieve the same thing and aligned to the same overall goals with this sense of collective spirit and energy,” says Supt Goh.
As a student, Supt Goh was unsure about his career path, but he knew he wanted a meaningful job that allowed him to serve the community and did not confine him to a desk.
“The long-term nature of this work appeals to me – I am helping to build Singapore for the future.”
– Supt James Goh, recipient of The SPF Scholarship
“As a former school floorball player, I also wanted to be in an organisation that had a strong sense of teamwork,” he says.
Upon receiving The SPF Scholarship in 2011, Supt Goh went to the University of Chicago in the United States to study economics.
“I’ve often been asked how my major in economics relates to my job as a Police officer,” he muses.
“My education has given me a solid toolbox to help analyse issues, such as to understand the motivation behind individual actions. This might include thinking about the costs and benefits for those considering committing a crime, so as to develop crime-fighting strategies,” he adds.
This thinking framework has helped him to come up with different initiatives for improving the SPF.
When Supt Goh joined the Operations Department at the Police Headquarters in 2017, he worked on changing SPF front-line units from a four-team to a five-team structure which allowed more dedicated time for officers to upskill themselves with training.
He also worked on the next generation of Police response vehicles which included features to better protect both Police officers and people in custody. These include, central dividers that separate the driver from the people in the rear seat – where the person in custody usually sits – and custom seats to allow space for the arms and hands of those who have been handcuffed.
As he advanced in his career, he was able to scale his efforts further in helping people. For example, he leveraged his secondment to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to fight crime in cyberspace.
“Previously, if you came across a fraudulent profile online, you would report it to the platform owner who would then put it through their own review process,” explains Supt Goh.
“We worked on legislation that gave the authorities better tools to deal with criminal content. This included granting the power to direct platforms to disable content – for example, those involved in suspected scams – preventing users in Singapore from seeing it.”
This legislation was passed in Parliament as the Online Criminal Harms Act in 2023.
Today, Supt Goh is serving at the Ministry of Finance as the Head of Connectivity and Transport in the Land and Infrastructure Programmes Directorate.
Here, he collaborates with the Ministry of Transport and other government agencies to fund and provide the necessary resources for Singapore’s transport needs.
“The long-term nature of this work appeals to me – I am helping to build Singapore for the future,” he says. “It is intellectually stimulating to grapple with policy issues, such as whether a transport project ought to be funded by the Government or perhaps be financed by borrowings. This involves thinking about the nature of such projects, including whether there are positive spillovers.”
Supt Goh is also guiding young officers like fellow SPF scholar and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Justin Tan, 27, who works in the Anti-Money Laundering Policy Branch of the Commercial Affairs Department.
“I’ve known James for eight years and I really value the regular catch-ups we’ve had as I went through university, Police training and my postings,” says DSP Tan.
As for Supt Goh, the only thing better than having his dream job is experiencing the camaraderie that has supported him throughout his career.
“My policing career has been fulfilling, not just because there is a strong sense of purpose but also because I am doing this with like-minded and motivated colleagues who are willing to help each other along,” he says.
| Purposeful progression A look at Sup James Goh’s career since he graduated from the University of Chicago 2015-2016: Senior Officer Trainee, Training Command He began his Police training, marking the start of his career in the Singapore Police Force. 2016-2017: Investigation Officer, Tanglin Police Division Supt Goh investigated reported crimes to uncover evidence of offences, to support prosecution. 2017-2019: Operations Officer, Operations Department, Police Headquarters Worked on policy matters for front-line operations including, equipping officers with new pistols and advanced response vehicles. 2019-2020: Commanding Officer, Rochor Neighbourhood Police Centre He steered the Police Centre’s efforts in local crimefighting and prevention and managed Police response to larger incidents. 2020-2021: Head of Operations, Bedok Police Division During the pandemic, Supt Goh oversaw the Division’s enforcement of Covid-19 safe management measures. He also oversaw planning and execution of security operations for events such as the National Day Parade. 2021-2023: Assistant Director, Joint Ops Management & Policy, Home Team Ops Management, Ministry of Home Affairs In this role, he reviewed and coordinated operational policy for various Home Team departments, and worked on legislation to tackle online scams. 2023-present: Head of Connectivity and Transport, Land and Infrastructure Programmes Directorate, Ministry of Finance He is currently working on national programmes relating to connectivity and transport infrastructure across land, air and sea. |
| About The SPF Scholarship The Singapore Police Force scholarship is one of the most prestigious scholarships offered by the Public Service Commission (PSC) to candidates who demonstrate strong leadership qualities and have a strong interest in policing work. Scholars will continue their learning journeys in world-renowned universities which provide intellectually, socially and personally enriching programmes. Upon graduation, scholars will be involved in shaping policies that address issues on public law and order as well as play an integral role in protecting the country and its communities. |