Landing page banner
The evening of 19 September 2025 started like countless others for Sergeant (Sgt) Muhammad Ammar Bin Abdul Razak.
Shortly after his night shift started, a dispatch from the Police Operations Command Centre (POCC) crackled through his portable radio set. It seemed like a straightforward domestic dispute case at Tampines Street 33.
But within minutes, what seemed routine would spiral into crisis, and Sgt Ammar would discover that sometimes the most important calls are the ones you don’t see coming.
From PNSF Officer to Regular Officer
Having started as a Full-time Police National Service (PNSF) officer at Tampines Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC) in 2019, Sgt Ammar extended his service and made the decision to sign on as a regular officer in 2022.
“The work of a Ground Response Force (GRF) officer is unlike any other,” he reflects. “We can face unexpected situations any time and, every day, I feel I have much to learn.”
A Mother’s Desperate Cry
After receiving the dispatch call, Sgt Ammar and his partner proceeded to the incident location. The case seemed straightforward – a man reported that his domestic helper was having a dispute with his wife at home.
As they made their way to the block in question, they were already mapping out familiar conflict resolution strategies in their minds. “As usual, my partner and I will assess the situation prior to arrival,” Sgt Ammar recalls. “In this case, we believed that separating both parties and having proper mediation would solve the issue.”
The officers had barely begun their mediation between the wife and domestic helper when the evening took a turn. “It was something none of us saw coming,” Sgt Ammar remembers.
In mid-conversation, the wife suddenly turned towards the hall where her baby was, sensing something was wrong. She dashed to her baby, lifting him from where he lay. Panic set in – the baby wasn’t responding.
“She ran towards me with her baby, shouting, ‘Help, officer! My baby is choking!’” Sgt Ammar recalls.
Fighting for His Breath
Taking the baby from the wife, Sgt Ammar found the child in his arms a heartbreaking sight: “He was trying to cry but he couldn’t, and his cheeks were turning purple.”
“My experience caring for my nephew while he was a newborn helped in this moment,” he reflects. “I didn’t hesitate as I didn’t want any uncertainty to result in someone losing their child.”
Sgt Ammar had recently completed his first aid training in April 2025 – a mandatory requirement for Police officers. While he’d responded to cardiac arrest incidents through the MyResponder app, he had never actually had to perform any life-saving procedures himself.
Sgt Ammar immediately called the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) for an ambulance, then positioned the baby face-down on his forearm. With measured force, he delivered several back blows to dislodge whatever was blocking the baby’s airway.
“In first aid, we’re taught to prioritise life over limb,” shares Sgt Ammar. “When it comes to a newborn, it’s hard to feel the same way, but I had to do what was necessary.”
The Sound of Life
After the back blows, Sgt Ammar carefully turned the baby around and began clearing his airway. The baby vomited out fluid as the mother watched in anguish, tears streaming down her face.
“We were both praying for the baby to make a sound,” Sgt Ammar recalls.
The seconds stretched endlessly as the mother’s sobs filled the silence.
“Then the baby responded,” says Sgt Ammar. “Shortly after, he began crying, and we all let out a huge sigh of relief.”
Minutes later, SCDF paramedics arrived and took over. After assessing the baby, they confirmed that he was stable and would recover fully.
As they prepared to transport the baby to hospital, Sgt Ammar's professionalism didn't waver. He spoke to the husband and helped the wife to peacefully resolve the original dispute.
Lessons in Blue
“I have a one-year-old nephew, whom I dearly love,” Sgt Ammar shares. “This incident affected me in many ways, one of which was to make me realise that as an officer, I must be as well-prepared as possible for any situation.”
The experience also deepened Sgt Ammar’s understanding of what it means to serve. “It gave me a new perspective on our mission to protect lives,” he explains. “We prepare for moments that we pray never come – but when they do, we act without hesitation.”
