Female sleuth equal among Phuket police

PHUKET: Captain Nucharee Longkaew is the only female police detective in Phuket. The single, 27-year-old native of Nakhon Sri Thammarat has been working for the investigations department of Phuket City Police since May of this year and is also working on a master’s degree in law. Here she talks about the life lessons she has learned and what it is like working in a male-dominated career:

I started work in October of 2007 as part of the investigation department of Prachachuen Police Station in Bangkok and moved to Phuket in May.

Being a detective is challenging and interesting. I’ve had many experiences that I don’t think I could have gotten from any other career. My work has taught me about Dharmic truths and human nature. I learned a lot when I had the chance to work in Klong Prem prison, which Prachachuen Police Station is responsible for – it was a good experience for me.

One of the biggest challenges a detective faces is the fact that every case is different. Even if the charges being brought against a suspect are the same as those faced by another, everything is different because every suspect has their own habits, traits and practices.

When we study law in our classes it is easy to figure out how to apply it because the facts were clear and consistent. In real-world cases it is different – the facts can be twisted.

The most stressful cases for me are ones that involve physical violence or families. In most cases that we deal with, both parties have valid points. I have learned that nobody is 100 per cent right.

People will come to us furious with each other and won’t listen to anyone. Then, when a few days have passed, the two parties will have calmed down and not want to take legal action. But sometimes the legal process has to continue. I feel sorry for them, but the law is the law.

I am happy working in Phuket. Everyone treats me well. It doesn’t bother me to be working with men – we just pay attention to our work. I don’t know if other women would have the same experience at other stations.

I feel lucky that Phuket City Police Superintendent Chote Chitchai and Deputy Superintendent Jumroon Playduong and other detectives allow me the power to make decisions about my cases and to work freely.

Col Chote and Lt Col Jumroon always check on me to see how my work is going and to make sure I’m not too stressed. They tell me that if I have any problems I can always talk with them – it makes me feel even better about working here.

I don’t feel subordinate to any of the men I work with. Some of them have a lot more experience than me and see situations very clearly, so I ask them for help when I need it – I think of them as brothers.