Moving On: Police

Policing: A mix of security and community

A few people have asked me about my choice of the police force as a scholarship- and I’ll write a bit here.

In Dec 2007, I was considering a number of options for the years ahead. I took up an internship at the Ministry of Finance (see my posts during that period), and found that a career in the civil service was something that I liked. I applied for a Public Service Commission Scholarship that month, and put down my preferences as first, the Administrative Service (which staffs the various ministries), and then the second, the Singapore Police Force.

Why the police force? At that time, I had been more set on the administrative service. Arguably, an office job is easier than a job like the police or armed forces- it is fairly flexible, your office is comfortable, and life in general is more comfortable. Moreover it draws more on one’s intellectual abilities than other aspects such as people skills and physical skills- much of my time in the MOF was spent in a chair, typing to a computer, and talking to colleagues only a few times a day.

Exposure

However in the MOF I happened to get to know Alvin Moh, a SPFOS scholar who was doing his MA posting at the MOF. He told me about his experiences in the Police Force, which prompted me to do a bit of research on my own. The Police Force, he said, had exposed him to a greater spectrum of Singaporean society than any other job could. This piqued my interest- admittedly I have been limited to by and large only a small segment of Singaporean society, and this being the educated, college-going, church-going upper middle class. A career in the police force would allow me to see first hand Singapore, from its upper white-collars, to the less-than-savoury aspects of the country. Moreover the SPFOS scholarship allows me to pursue a dual career in the administrative service and police force; therefore what I see on the ground in the Police, I can (theoretically) affect in my career in the government, through policy.

A Challenging Career

Moreover, increasingly I find that a career in the police force forces me out my “comfort-zone”. I don’t doubt that I would do equally if not better in an office job in one of the ministries- but perhaps it may be a bit too “natural” to sit in a chair, type in a computer, attend meetings and debate topics. Being in the police force first as a man, and later on as a commander will stretch my people management skills, and force me to adapt to new situations, new people, and new time schedules. Being in the uniformed groups will likewise train my discipline; this are intangible parts of the job that will stretch and constantly challenge me to be more than what I am.

The Nature of Policing

But most importantly I understand and relate to the nature of the job, policing. While in Delta Wing I briefly considered taking up a Navy scholarship; however I have come to realise that I identify little with the notion of national defence, as compared to what I relate to in terms of homeland security. I understand the need for laws and rules in Singapore, I understand that in order to enforce these laws certain otherwise harsh actions need to be taken. These ensure our community stays the way it is. I don’t claim to agree with everything, but by and large I identify with the broad purposes of it. More than that I understand how policing is ultimately also by inroads to the community, and dealing with the less savoury aspects to maintain our way of life.

Scholars

However I baulk at one thing. Being a scholar is a privilege, however it is also an ankleweight that might prevent one from really connecting with other people. I have always wanted to be one of the common sort, not someone elevated so far off the ground that he loses touch of it altogether. A scholar tag immediately labels you as someone who acts as if he knows everything, refuses to get his hands dirty, and has a propensity to change everything that has been well established.

There’s not much I can write about this, but this. I believe that there is no such thing as a scholar; rather there are people who have been given scholarships. I believe that every one who has been given a scholarship is a good person; there is something that others see in him/her to invest a good sum of money. It is thus this person’s duty to ensure that other people benefit from whatever he has learnt in his university/school. My job now is to be a good person, who is on the ground as much as anyone else, and through it learn and understand as much of the system he is in from his elders and contemporaries.

Finally

Ultimately, if you’d ask me if I’d remain a policeman for life, I don’t know. As much as you’d like to be decisive, there remains an element of uncertainty as to what the job will give, and more importantly what I can contribute to the job. My interest in regional and local development and social service will remain; by and large that will be done parallel to my career. My interest in governmental policy will also stay; this will be part of my work in the government later on in my career. In my opinion I like the career which I have chosen, and though later on the hours may be long and the job may be tough, but ultimately I hope I will remember the reasons I chose it, and enthusiastically do what I have chosen to do.