This young police officer believes in multi-tasking

Born and brought up in the olive green atmosphere of the Indian Army, discipline and patriotism are embedded in the genes of this young police officer who is working round the clock to build a relationship of faith and trust between the police and the city residents. Presently holding assignments like running of 13 sanhj kendras, Woman Police Station, Economic Offences Wing and headquarters administration, the daughter of a retired Colonel is looking after various community projects, including “Ankhein”, “Disha”, crèche for working mothers, woman empowerment projects and many other initiatives to build up a crime-free society. Rachna Khaira speaks to ACP Deepika Singh and finds out what keeps her ticking round the clock with her job.

Advertisement

Tell us about you childhood and family background.

I was born in Dehradun. Since my father was in the Army, we kept on moving from one place to another in the country. I did my schooling from Meghalaya, Ambala, Srinagar and Madhya Pradesh and did my bachelor in physiotherapy from Punjabi University, Patiala, in 2009.

When and why did you plan to join the police service?

It was during my internship in the DMC Ludhiana in 2010 that I thought of giving the civil services examination a shot. As I did not know Punjabi, I had to learn it on my own to appear in the Punjab Civil Services exam, which I cleared in 2014.

From olive green to khaki atmosphere. How was the transformation? Did you face any challenges?

Keeping aside discipline and patriotic fervour, there is a huge difference between the two forces. While the Army does not deal with the public directly, the police is all about dealing with the public and looking after their concerns. You cannot seclude yourself to one compartment while being a police officer. I personally did not face any problem as I am a public person and love to be amongst them.

What projects have you undertaken under community policing in the city? 

Presently, we have taken up projects like “Ankhein” where we have installed CCTV cameras at strategic locations in the city which had brought down crime rates of chain snatching and road rage incidents. Also, another Project Disha, spearheaded by our first lady Shruti Shukla, is providing psychological training to class X students to choose the right career for them. Besides, initiatives like “Big Street Shows”, “Help Your Cops”, blood donation and other medical camps have actually bridged the gap between the police and the public in the city. 

How does community police 

help curb crime? 

Community policing is a very important tool to help curb crime as it brings the public close to the police and also in the exchange of important information between them. Most importantly, the fear of the police goes and instead a relation of trust and friendship develops which proves beneficial in curbing crime in an area.

What major challenges do you face in community policing? 

Though many social welfare organisations, NGOs and resident welfare groups have come forward and assured us of their support for various projects, some sections of society still refuse to believe that the police can play the role of a good samaritan also. But I am confident that with continuous efforts, we will bring all together to build a crime-free society.

You are handling so many projects together. How do you keep yourself ticking round the clock? 

I would like to give the credit to my seniors without whose support I would not have been able to achieve that in such a short time. I am fortunate that their constant guidance and motivation keeps my enthusiasm level high every time and keeps me ticking 24x7. 

Your husband is also a cop. Did same profession sometimes create turbulence at home? 

I am fortunate that my husband is also posted in the city as ACP in the Model Town area. He is very supportive and guides me on various issues. No, we never had turbulence at home as we are a peace loving couple and love to maintain law and order at home as well.

What are your other interests? 

I love to read books. Though I do not have any special liking, I have a huge collection of books on fiction, spirituality etc. I even had preserved a set of fairy tale books which my dad had bought for me from Secundrabad when I was very young.

Any dream project in mind? 

As I am handling affairs of the women’s police station as well, the agony of the women who come there with various marital disputes hurts me a lot. As a case sometimes takes years to decide, my department even tried to commence some free vocational courses for them to make them self-reliant, but a majority of them refused to do so. I wish that I can someday convince them to enroll for these courses and make them independent in their lives.