From bringing murderers to justice to supporting COVID-19 operations at the height of the pandemic, Mr Poh Ah Keong shares his policing journey and beyond.
By: Ryan Yeo
Over 42 years in the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Mr Poh Ah Keong navigated diverse roles, from frontline duties to community engagement. He found the dynamic nature of policing that kept his passion bright.
In 1995, Mr Poh became the Deputy Officer-in-Charge of Potong Pasir Neighbourhood Police Post, and was posted to Toa Payoh Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC) as a Team Leader in 2000. Subsequently, he served as the Deputy Officer-in-Charge at Toa Payoh NPC’s Community Policing Unit from 2013 until he retired in 2019.
“Policing work is fascinating,” shared Mr Poh, explaining what motivated him to stay in the SPF for more than four decades. “The nature of the cases we deal with can be similar, but the people we engage with are always different, and this makes each case something else entirely.”
Unforgettable Cases
During his career, Mr Poh investigated and resolved numerous memorable cases.
Mr Poh recalled the Yishun taxi driver murder case in 1992. The family of a taxi driver grew concerned when he failed to return home after his usual shift. After receiving a ransom call, the family made a Police report. An investigation was swiftly launched.
“Initially, we investigated the case as a kidnapping,” said Mr Poh. “However, when the suspect was arrested, it turned out to be a murder case, as the taxi driver was found dead in his taxi at a dirt track off Yishun.”
The suspect and his accomplice were later found guilty of the murder and received the death penalty.
Cleaning Up with Commitment
Apart from tackling high-profile cases, Mr Poh has also faced challenges that were more community-centric. One memorable incident saw Mr Poh helping to resolve a hoarding case in 2015 in Toa Payoh. The family concerned had collected and stacked large amounts of old newspapers and other items along the common corridor and inside their unit, which posed a public health concern and fire hazard for residents.
After multiple engagements with the family, Mr Poh was able to persuade them to discard the items. The six-day clean-up operation that followed involved agencies such as the People’s Association, National Environment Agency, Singapore Civil Defence Force and Housing and Development Board.
“As a result, we managed to clear about ten tonnes of rubbish, and received a Team Commendation Award at the Municipal Services Awards in 2017 for our efforts,” shared Mr Poh.
Passing the Baton
Mr Poh’s son was inspired to join the SPF in 2013 after hearing Mr Poh’s policing stories. “When he was still a young student, he told me that he wanted to be a Police officer,” recalled Mr Poh. “He worked hard and received a scholarship with the Ministry of Home Affairs, and he’s now a Team Leader with Bedok Police Division.”
Even after his retirement in 2019, Mr Poh’s passion for safeguarding the community burns bright. “When the COVID-19 pandemic started, the SPF Career Transition Office asked if I was keen to help combat the pandemic,” he recalled.
Without hesitation, Mr Poh joined the Ministry of Health’s Quarantine Operations Task Group. From 2020 to 2021, he helped to coordinate ambulances to transport COVID-19 patients to hospitals.
Since October 2021, Mr Poh has been working with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). He started with investigating breaches to Stay-Home Notices during the pandemic, leveraging his investigation experience, and is now a Senior Customer Service Executive with the ICA Services Centre.
“I gained invaluable experience while working in the SPF, and the skills I acquired continue to be applicable in the ICA,” he said. “I also enjoy upskilling myself and learning new things. This curiosity keeps me going to this day.”
His advice to young officers in the Home Team? “Be prepared for the unexpected as our operating environment is constantly changing!”
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