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From Yew Tee to Choa Chu Kang, 65 years old Ms Amy Huang has spent more than 15 years patrolling her neighbourhood as a Citizens on Patrol (COP) volunteer.
For Ms Amy, volunteering isn’t just about keeping a lookout for suspicious activities – it’s about building connections, growing as a person and giving back to the community.
Tell us about yourself. What inspired you to become a COP volunteer?
I’m a visual arts educator working with primary, secondary and junior college students, mainly involved in extracurricular activities and ad-hoc school projects.
My volunteer journey began in 2009, when my former Residents’ Committee (RC) Chairman, Mr Jimmy Teo, inspired all RC members to join the COP scheme. From 2009 to 2018, we patrolled the Yew Tee neighbourhood together.
I began patrolling the Limbang area, including Yew Tee MRT station and Yew Tee Square. Since 2025, I've been attached to the Choa Chu Kang Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC) as a COP volunteer.
What does your role as a COP volunteer entail?
As a COP volunteer, I patrol once a month in the Choa Chu Kang neighbourhood for about two hours, in groups of at least four volunteers. Our role is to deter crime by keeping a lookout for suspicious persons or activities.
We also engage residents and share crime prevention advisories with them. Through these interactions, we help create a safer living environment for everyone.
How do you balance your professional work with your COP duties?
I’m self-employed so I have more flexibility with my time. As long as my COP duties don’t conflict with my family commitments or community events, I’m able to make time for volunteering.
I believe it’s about making the effort and managing our time well.
What’s your most memorable experience as a COP volunteer?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we noticed a man sleeping at a corner of a car park while on patrol. It was unusual, so we reported it to Choa Chu Kang NPC for follow-up.
It reminded me that even something small or unusual is worth paying attention to. As COP volunteers, we play a part in keeping our neighbourhood safe by being the extra eyes and ears in our community.
What keeps you motivated to continue volunteering?
What motivates me most is the connections I’ve built – with residents and fellow volunteers. I enjoy meeting people and being part of the community.
Volunteering has also helped me grow as a person. I’ve learnt how to interact with people from different backgrounds and communicate with greater confidence, especially when engaging residents during our patrols. It also encourages me to step out of my comfort zone and take on new challenges, whether it is learning new skills or responding to situations that I may not have encountered before. Knowing that I’m contributing something meaningful to the community makes it all worthwhile.
I also appreciate the encouragement and recognition we receive along the way, whether it’s a simple word of thanks, a message of appreciation or an award. It goes a long way.
What advice would you give to those interested in becoming a COP volunteer?
There is a quote by Audrey Hepburn that I like: “You realise you have two hands – one to help yourself, the other to help others.”
Signing up as a Police volunteer is a meaningful way to keep Singapore safe – and you won’t be doing it alone.
Volunteers in Blue
In this series, we spotlight our dedicated volunteers who serve with passion and commitment across various schemes within the SPF.
Ready to embark on a rewarding journey with the SPF and make a difference to the community? Find out how you can join the COP to play your part in building a safer Singapore.
