Former CPIB director was an officer and a gentleman

Former CPIB director was an officer and a gentleman

I READ of former Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) director Evan Yeo's death and would like to share my experiences of working under him ("'Upright, forthright' corruption buster dies"; last Friday).

I was posted to the Beach Road "C" division in late 1971, just after Mr Yeo was posted out. The police officers there said he liked officers to salute him and always found fault with the lower-ranked ones.

However, when he came to head the Police Academy, I found that he was very different from what I had heard about him.

Mr Yeo instructed officers who drove to work to park at the designated carpark and walk within the compound.

Some remarked that he would do otherwise, but he set an example for others to follow.

He also initiated the sword drill for all senior police officers working in the academy. On the first day of training, he was the first one at the parade ground.

There was also a time when he sent the CPIB officers to the Police Academy for firearms training. Many of them had been issued personal revolvers but did not have a chance to practise firing them for many years.

The first batch all passed; some obtained first-class and even marksman results.

Not convinced that his CPIB officers could obtain such remarkable results, Mr Yeo personally came down for training.

When he himself obtained first-class results, he finally believed that his men could do it.

Mr Yeo was indeed an officer and a gentleman.

Kuek Sui Liang


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