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The most unforgettable class Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police (DAC) Shaun Lim took as an undergraduate at Harvard University was not in a grand lecture hall but inside a medium-security American prison.
Once a week for an entire semester, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) scholar sat shoulder to shoulder with inmates as part of a module that explored the historical and sociological roots of mass incarceration.
What made the class unique was its enrolment: Half were Harvard students like himself while the other half were male inmates, some serving time for serious and violent crimes.
“Hearing about some of the things they had gotten into prison for and why they did it, I realised they were not fundamentally different from me. Under different circumstances, I could imagine my friends, peers and community being in similar situations,” says DAC Lim, now 32. He is also a President’s Scholar.
That semester “behind bars” left a lasting impression and drove home a powerful lesson – that the line between good and bad is rarely clear-cut, and even those who break the law are shaped by complex circumstances.
That was not the first time DAC Lim had found himself confronting some of life’s biggest questions. As a student at Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), while most of his peers were considering academic or corporate careers, DAC Lim was grappling with a different concern.
“I remember waking up at 5.30am one morning, feeling grumpy about going to school,” he recalls. “It struck me that this was what life was going to be like for the next few decades – waking up early, going to work. I asked myself: What kind of work would make me actually want to get out of bed every day?”
It made him realise he wanted a career where he could end each day knowing he had made a difference in the world.
While still at ACS(I), DAC Lim was awarded the SPF Book Prize in recognition of his academic excellence and co-curricular achievements, which led to a short attachment at a Neighbourhood Police Centre. There, he watched front-line officers in action, not just enforcing the law but also getting to know their communities, forging bonds and taking responsibility for the people under their protection.
“The familiarity they had with the people they served and the pride they took in protecting their areas stayed with me,” he says. “Most people interact with police officers only at low points in their lives – when they are accused of doing something bad, or something bad has been done to them. I felt that by interacting with people at low points in their lives, I would have made some difference – something worth waking up for.”
That decision led him to apply for The SPF Scholarship, which opened the door for him to pursue a degree in molecular and cellular biology at Harvard University, followed by a master’s in criminology at the University of Pennsylvania.
More than a decade into his policing career, DAC Lim still finds himself reflecting on that prison classroom experience. He recalls one particular case during his time as an Investigation Officer at Tanglin Division. DAC Lim was escorting a theft suspect back to his home for a raid when a woman entered. She yelled at him to fix the Wi-Fi and make her something to eat, oblivious to the fact that he was in police custody.
Back in the lock-up, DAC Lim asked the man about the interaction. He explained that the woman was his wife and he had committed the theft to support her as her mental health had been deteriorating.
“I asked him about their future,” DAC Lim recalls. “He said all he knew was that he would stick by her side and be there for her since he had made a promise.”
DAC Lim charged the man for his offence and then referred him to social support.
“What he did was egregious, so he spent time in prison. However, there is a whole story behind it and he is not a bad person,” he adds.
That ability to weigh different perspectives also proved invaluable on a global stage. In 2021, DAC Lim was posted to New York for three months, where he joined representatives from Singapore’s Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Third Committee of the General Assembly of the United Nations.
“Rules are important, but whether we are dealing with individuals or nations, we must begin with understanding the human realities behind every decision.”
– DAC Shaun Lim, recipient of The SPF Scholarship
There, he helped negotiate over 60 resolutions on complex international issues – from drug criminalisation to refugee rights.
“Each proposal had to be carefully assessed,” he explains. “If it aligned with Singapore’s interests, we gave our support and worked with others to try to advance the proposal. If we couldn’t support a proposal, we tried to understand why other countries backed it, discussed our stance with headquarters, and worked with like-minded nations to find solutions and compromises that could work for everyone.”
The experience only reaffirmed a belief he now holds close: Justice is nuanced. “Rules are important,” he says, “but whether we are dealing with individuals or nations, we must begin with understanding the human realities behind every decision.”
Today, as Deputy Commander of SPF’s Central Division, DAC Lim is imparting these lessons to the more than 850 officers under his charge. “We have to uphold the law because actions have consequences,” he says. “However, we must also remember that defendants and victims are all human beings.”
In his current role, DAC Lim has overseen the security operations for many of Singapore’s major events, including the annual Formula One Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, National Day Parade, 2025 General Election, and cultural festivities like Thaipusam. He also manages a wide range of day-to-day responsibilities – from audits and financial processes to procurement, training, public engagement and human resources (HR).
One of the things he appreciates most about his job is the ability to shape the culture of a workplace with so many officers, knowing that every decision he makes will affect his officers personally.
“While these officers take care of the community, I am in a position where I can, in turn, influence things to better take care of them,” he says.
“For instance, whether it is implementing training policies, reducing the amount of red tape officers have to deal with, or making HR decisions that help our officers feel empowered and supported – it is a way for me to positively shape the culture and environment in the division.”
To positively shape the workplace culture, DAC Lim also makes it a priority to meet his officers one-on-one to discuss their career paths or personal concerns.
“Work takes up most of our waking hours,” he says. “I consider it a success if my officers can go home and tell their friends and family that they got to do what they wanted to do or that they had made a difference somewhere. It is quite a unique opportunity to be entrusted with, to ensure that officers are able to do their duty to help people and make sure justice is done.”
| About The SPF Scholarship The Singapore Police Force Scholarship is one of the most prestigious scholarships offered by the Public Service Commission 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. |
This article is brought to you by the Singapore Police Force.
