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At the Home Team Promotion Ceremony 2026, Superintendent of Police (Supt) She Zhao Zuo and Supt Tay Pau Ling marked a shared milestone – as husband and wife promoted together. Their achievements reflect not just individual dedication but a journey taken side by side, supporting each other through the demands of policing.
From different starting points, both officers found themselves drawn to policing for reasons that were, at first, unassuming.
For Supt She, it began by chance. “Growing up, I never had the ambition to be a Police officer – I thought I might join the Republic of Singapore Air Force,” he recalls. A friend’s suggestion to apply to the Singapore Police Force (SPF) changed everything. “In the end, I got in and he didn’t,” he recalls. What followed was a journey defined by discovery – one where he found not just a career, but a calling.
For Supt Tay, the appeal was clearer from the outset. “I was looking for a career that wasn’t deskbound or predictable – and the SPF certainly delivered on that promise,” she says. Seventeen years on, her conviction remains unchanged. “There’s never been a dull moment.”
Many Paths
From their early days as squadmates at the Home Team Academy where they first met in 2009, both officers have built careers that reflect the breadth and diversity of policing.
Supt She’s journey has taken him from the ground as an Investigation Officer (IO) in Tanglin Police Division and Team Leader at Serangoon Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC) to shaping operations and technology Force-wide. As part of the first batch of Ops Tech officers at the Ops-Tech Department (OTD) in 2017, he helped develop digital tools which sharpened his skills in user experience design and innovation.
Stepping into uncharted territory brought uncertainty and growth. “In those early days, the challenge was that there was no playbook,” Supt She says. “We had to lay the foundations ourselves, adapt constantly and stay agile.”
That experience stood him in good stead beyond the SPF when he undertook a six-month industrial attachment at Prudential Singapore, where he further honed his expertise in design thinking.
Today, Supt She leads Woodlands West NPC as Commanding Officer, bringing together his operational experience and forward-thinking approach to solving problems.
Supt Tay’s journey has been equally dynamic. Beginning as an IO in Tanglin Police Division, she went on to lead teams in Bedok Police Division before moving into a criminal policy role at the Criminal Investigation Department, training policy at the Training and Capability Development Department and the SGSecure Programme Office at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
“It feels like I’ve had multiple careers rolled in one,” Supt Tay reflects. Each posting brought new lessons that she continues to draw upon in her current role as Commanding Officer of Ang Mo Kio North NPC.
Leading Officers, Serving the Community
As Commanding Officers, the couple share a common mission: to lead with purpose while giving their best to both the communities they serve and their officers.
Managing a diverse team is no small task, but it’s also what Supt She finds most meaningful. “It’s not just knowing each officer by name – it’s understanding their individual needs and aspirations, and supporting them,” he says.
Supt Tay echoes this sentiment, noting the importance of balance when it comes to engaging with residents. “It’s about building strong community partnerships whilst ensuring my officers have the support and resources they need,” she says. “Every day brings new challenges, which keeps the role exciting.”
Moments that Matter
In policing, certain moments leave an indelible mark. For Supt She, one such moment came early in his career as an IO when he found himself standing beside a grieving father who’d just received devastating news about his child.
“He collapsed on the spot,” Supt She recalls. “I stayed with him, giving him time to grieve and calm down.”
That incident reshaped his understanding of the job. “Policing isn’t just about resolving cases,” Supt She shares. “Sometimes the most important thing we can do is simply be present for someone in their worst moment.”
For Supt Tay, a late-night case during her time as a Team Leader in Tampines NPC stands out. After responding to a brutal case of assault, her team worked swiftly to locate the suspect and recover a critical piece of evidence – a severed body part from the victim, carefully preserving it with ice from a nearby McDonald’s before passing it over to medical personnel.
“It was incredibly rewarding to learn from the news later that doctors had successfully reattached the victim’s body part,” Supt Tay says. “It reminded me that sometimes the smallest actions can make the biggest difference.”
Growing Through Challenges
Their shared profession brings an unspoken understanding – when duty calls, “the other just gets it,” Supt She shares. But simultaneous deployments mean quickly arranging care for their children, requiring careful planning. Through it all, they credit supportive colleagues and supervisors who help them balance family and work commitments.
The couple also share a common leadership philosophy – one grounded in humility and mutual support. “I learned that no one succeeds alone. Every achievement is built on the people around you,” shares Supt She.
For Supt Tay, leadership is about enabling others to find the answers themselves, even when outcomes are uncertain: “Some of the best learning moments come from things not going according to plan.”
To younger officers, their career advice is both practical and forward-looking. “Change is the one constant,” says Supt She. “Lean into it – and where you can, be the one driving it.”
Supt Tay adds: “Stay curious, be compassionate and never stop learning. Every interaction is an opportunity to make a positive impact!”
