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On 17 November 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs National Day Awards Investiture was held at Ngee Ann Polytechnic to honour Home Team officers for their outstanding professionalism and dedication in service.

Among the award recipients was Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kiran Devi, who received the Commendation Medal. This year marks her 32nd year of service in the Singapore Police Force (SPF).

After completing her Police training in 1993, DSP Kiran was posted to Clementi Police Division's Watch Team. Three years later, she joined the Division's Investigation Branch. In 1999, she was posted to Queenstown Neighbourhood Police Centre where she took on diverse responsibilities including patrolling, community engagement and investigations.

Between 2002 and 2018, DSP Kiran progressed through various postings that broadened her policing experience including a stint at the Criminal Investigation Department. Following her Senior Officers’ training, she returned to Clementi Police Division's Investigation Branch and later became Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Community Policing Unit.

Since 2019, she has served as OC of the Watch Team (OC Watch) at the Police Operations Command Centre (POCC), before being seconded to the Ministry of National Development's Community Relations Unit in August 2025.

The One Who Watches All

As OC Watch, DSP Kiran led a team in monitoring reported Police cases across Singapore, with land divisions and specialist units providing real-time updates on ongoing cases.

“During our 12-hour shifts, there are always new situations that we need to respond to,” shares DSP Kiran. “That is why we remain on constant alert.”

These challenges include handling 999 callers who may be rude or distrustful of the advice they receive. When such situations arise, she must make critical decisions swiftly to resolve them.

This was the case during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Watch Team continued its duties while abiding by the prevailing safe management measures. “We had to prioritise the most urgent cases to deal with first,” she explains. “At the POCC, decision-making happens on the go. You must always be on your feet to act quickly.”

DSP Kiran’s role requires her to manage Police officers as well as a team of Home Team personnel, Police National Service officers and civilian call-takers. She ensures that all are properly informed and kept in the loop for every situation: “Accurate information flow in a structured manner can be critical to the successful outcomes for cases.”

Witnessing Changes in the Force

One of the biggest changes in the SPF that DSP Kiran has observed in her career was its shift towards greater use of technology and training of officers to make full use of these technologies in everyday policing, incident response and crime-fighting.

“In Ops rooms of the past, after dispatching the GRF, operators would only know what happened on the ground when officers reported over the radio,” she explains. “Now, the POCC has developed the sensemaking methodology that uses technology such as using the caller’s mobile phone to stream live video to POCC for better appreciation of the ground situation and viewing of Police Cameras (PolCams) to track down the suspects.”

Such technology enables the POCC to be more proactive in supporting officers and managing resources to respond to incidents.

The POCC leverages the PolCam network to keep Singapore safe and secure. DSP Kiran recounts a housebreaking case that was reported on 18 December 2024, in which the POCC utilised PolCam technology to identify two suspects.

Once the suspects were identified, their information was promptly disseminated to officers on the ground, leading to their arrest and the recovery of the stolen items at their hotel. “This demonstrates how communication and technology can work together to solve challenging cases efficiently,” says DSP Kiran.

Leading on Multiple Fronts

Outside of her role as OC Watch, DSP Kiran has held multiple secondary appointments throughout her career.

As the Deputy Team Leader in the Crisis Negotiation Unit (CNU), she helps to rally her team and guide them on proper negotiation techniques. To her, negotiation is always a team effort – no one ever works alone. Through mentoring and a focus on skills development, DSP Kiran ensures her fellow CNU officers are well-prepared and confident when managing real crisis situations.

DSP Kiran has been deployed as the lead negotiator covering major events such as the National Day Parade. “As negotiators, we enter dynamic situations and engage with highly emotionally charged individuals,” she shares. “That’s why we need to be well-prepared.”

DSP Kiran was also the Team Leader for the POCC Paracounsellor Committee. Working with other paracounsellors across various teams and units, she supported the mental wellness of POCC officers.

“When colleagues feel emotionally overwhelmed, we provide support by listening to them and helping them work through their challenges,” she explains. “We provide an outlet for our officers to be heard.”

Embracing the Journey

DSP Kiran also champions our women in blue, serving as Deputy Chairperson for the POCC Women’s Committee. Asked how she’s able to juggle her many commitments, DSP Kiran credits her diverse experiences within the SPF: “Through the lessons I’ve picked up and feedback from other officers, I’ve been able to carry out my duties well.”

What motivates DSP Kiran to continue serving in the SPF to this day is simple: “I’m making a real difference in the community.”

For those just starting on their SPF journey, she encourages them to keep an open mind and embrace it all: “The good, the bad and the ugly – it’s all part of growing up within the SPF. Enjoy the journey!”