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Duty and Sacrifice: Seeking the Truth on Behalf of Victims of Sexual Crime
Home Team
SPF
5 August 2021
ASP Calina Campbell’s childhood dream was to be a Police officer. Now, she investigates sexual crimes to bring suspects to justice.
PHOTO: Joash Tan
What do you want to be when you grow up?
While some kids struggle to answer that question, that was never the case for Calina Campbell. It was simple – she wanted to become a Police officer.
Having witnessed a gang fight in her younger days, she was impressed by the way the Police officers had stepped in to handle the case. “I was really inspired,” she recalled. “Seeing the way that the officers could take charge of a situation to keep everyone safe, I wanted to be a part of that too.”
From Childhood Dream to Reality
Today, Calina is living her dream. After completing her university studies, she joined the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in 2013. She was posted to Jurong Police Division before becoming a Team Leader at Toa Payoh Neighbourhood Police Centre. Currently, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Calina serves in the Serious Sexual Crime Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department, the premier agency and staff authority for criminal investigation matters within SPF.
Having served in this role for 3.5 years, ASP Calina explained that she felt moved to investigate sexual crimes after having handled a few such cases in her first posting. “Dealing with victims first-hand,” she shared, “I really empathised with them and felt the need to pursue justice on their behalf.”
Uncovering the Truth
Once assigned to a case, ASP Calina works with her fellow investigators to gather evidence. It’s a bit like piecing a jigsaw puzzle together – conducting interviews with victims and suspects, building a strong case and working with the Attorney-General’s Chambers when it charges suspects in court.
For ASP Calina, intra-familial cases – where the suspect is a family member – are the hardest to investigate as some of the victims may be young and extremely vulnerable. “These situations are the most challenging," she said. "As officers, we have to put aside our emotions and be objective.”
Every Officer Plays a Part
When it comes to caring for female victims of sexual crime, ASP Calina will often take the lead. But solving such cases requires dedication, effort and care from every officer on the team. “At the end of the day, we all work together,” she explained. “That’s how we keep each other safe. Everyone has a role to play.”
It’s also in these very cases that ASP Calina finds her reason to serve. “People always ask me, ‘How do you sleep at night after hearing all these stories; don’t you feel traumatised?’” she said. “That's why I seek the truth in the cases I investigate. It’s fulfilling because I know that my efforts bring closure to victims of crime.”
Commemorating 200 Years of the Singapore Police Force: The Singapore Police Bicentennial 2020 Medal
The Singapore Police Bicentennial 2020 Medal will be awarded to Singapore Police Force (SPF) officers following a Parliamentary Motion to commemorate 200 years of the SPF by Mr Christopher De Souza on 3 August 2021.
The Singapore Police Bicentennial 2020 Medal honours the important contributions of the SPF to Singapore over the last 200 years and accords recognition to SPF officers for their service to the nation. This award sends a strong message of support to the men and women of the Force, past and present.
The Medal will be awarded to SPF officers who were in service for any period between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2020. This includes regular Police officers, Full-time National Servicemen, Operationally Ready National Servicemen and Volunteer Special Constabulary officers.
A Medallion will also be awarded to former Police officers who had retired or completed their National Service liabilities before 1 January 2020. This Medallion will also be given to civilian officers who were in service with the SPF in 2020, as well as the families of officers who had died in the line of duty.