The Singapore Police Force (SPF) issued an apology on Wednesday (29 June) after a photo of one of its officers posing "inappropriately" with a "V" sign at a death scene was uploaded on social media.
In a Facebook post, SPF stated that disciplinary action will be taken against the officer.
The image, uploaded by Facebook user Tracy Lim on Tuesday, depicted a police officer posing next to a blue tent used to cover a person's body.
The body was discovered unmoving at the foot of a block. The police have determined that the event included an unnatural death.
Lim claimed in a post that is no longer available that the deceased individual was her aunt who "decided to end her life." Lim confronted the officer for pretending as her aunt's corpse "was nothing more than a backdrop or accessory to a photograph."
She stated that the officer had seen the incident as humorous and a "pleasant affair as if he had just won a trophy, game, or award" instead of displaying fundamental respect.
Lim said, "Is there no standard for how a police officer should act, particularly when on duty and attending to a case involving a victim?
This is completely inappropriate and insulting to my family, myself, and anybody who has experienced a family death.
Lim also requested that Minister of Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam investigate police officer training.
"I pray no one has to go through what we did; having someone whose job it is to protect us put salt in our wounds," she added.
Police: Officer's response "inappropriate"
The police stated that they called the deceased's family and apologized for the officer's conduct.
In addition, they stated that the officer was not taking a photo of himself at the incident, adding that his behavior was unacceptable "in the presence of bystanders in the neighborhood."
"All police personnel are required to manage events with professionalism. The police force will take disciplinary measures against the officer.
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