John Le Cain

John Le Cain (8 October 1912 – 11 January 1993) was a Singaporean former police officer that served as the Commissioner of Police in Singapore from 1964 to 1967. As a Eurasian, he was the first with Asian ancestry to be appointed to that post.

Early life and education Le Cain was born in Bangkok, Siam on 8 October 1912. Two years later, he and his family moved to Singapore, then a part of the Straits Settlements, where he attended Saint Andrew's School and Raffles Institution.

Career From 1931 to 1939, Le Cain was employed as a law clerk at a law firm, after which he became a probationary inspector with the Straits Settlements Police Force. He was initially stationed at the Tanjong Pagar Police Station. In 1950, he spent six months training at the Ryton-on-Dunsmore Police Training Centre in Warwickshire, England. Upon his return, he was appointed the Commandant of the Police Training School in Singapore. He was also appointed the head of the Marine Police. In 1953, he was promoted to the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police. In the same year, he was awarded the Colonial Police Medal for Meritorious Service and appointed the head of the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, a role which he held until 1959. From 1959 to 1960, he served as the Assistant Commissioner (Detachments). On 14 October 1961, he was appointed the acting Deputy Commissioner of Police in place of Song Kok Hoo, who was the first Asian to serve in that role. Le Cain was again appointed the acting Commissioner of Police on 21 March 1963 following Blades' retirement, with Appudhurai Thurai Rajah serving as the acting Deputy Commissioner. In the same year, he was conferred the Public Administration Medal (Gold). An hour-long farwell parade for Le Cain, which involved more than 1,100 police officers, was held at the Police Training Centre on 12 July. He officially retired on 8 September. In the same year, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. From 1969 to 1971, he served as the Counsellor (Defence) to the Singapore High Commission in London.

Personal life and death Le Cain was an avid sportsman. In 1930, whilst attending Raffles Institution, he set a record for high jump at 5 ft 8½ in. He also played rugby, hockey and cricket.

La Cain married Minnie Kronenburg, a fellow Eurasian of German descent, on 24 March 1940. He had one son, Errol, in 1941, who died in 1989. Le Cain died on 11 January 1993, aged 80, following a short illness.