Off-duty PCG officer Sgt Nasri went beyond the call of duty to bring a stranded elderly lady on an expressway to safety.
By: Glenn Wong
For Sergeant (Sgt) Mohamad Nasri Riduan, the instinct to serve and protect doesn’t end when he takes off his uniform.
Sgt Nasri’s journey with the Singapore Police Force (SPF) began in 2011 as a Full-time Police National Service officer with the Police Coast Guard (PCG). As a PCG Patrol officer, he once responded to an incident where two crew members on a vessel were injured due to a fire on board, which strengthened his resolve to serve and protect the community.
Driven by a continued passion for policing, he returned to the SPF in 2019 as a Ground Response Force officer at Rochor Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC).
An Unexpected Encounter
On 12 January 2025 at about 4pm, off-duty Sgt Nasri was driving along Kranji Expressway (KJE) to fetch his family from Choa Chu Kang. While en route, he spotted an elderly woman walking precariously along the narrow road shoulder.
“The elderly lady looked disoriented,” recalls Sgt Nasri. “I was worried for her safety as the vehicles were travelling quite fast, just metres away from her.”
Sgt Nasri’s policing instincts quickly kicked in. He carefully stopped his vehicle on the road shoulder, a few metres from the elderly lady, and activated the hazard lights, taking care to ensure the safety of himself, the elderly lady and other road users.
Alighting from his vehicle, Sgt Nasri approached the lady and introduced himself before checking on her well-being. “She looked to be in her seventies and explained to me that she’d lost her way while looking for the nearest bus stop,” he recounts.
Mindful of the fast-moving traffic, he reassured her and offered her a ride to the nearest NPC, which she accepted. Concerned about her well-being in the warm weather, he also offered her a packet drink.
A Journey to Safety
Once the elderly lady was safely in his car, Sgt Nasri drove towards Choa Chu Kang NPC. During the trip, he listened attentively as she spoke about her family and how she intended to take a bus home but lost her way. “Hearing her story, you understand how easily something like this can happen, especially for the elderly,” Sgt Nasri reflects.
Upon arriving at Choa Chu Kang NPC, Sgt Nasri contacted the elderly lady’s daughter through her mobile phone while another officer checked on the women’s well-being and gathered additional information.
“When I reached her daughter, she was relieved to hear that her mother was safe,” Sgt Nasri recalls. “The family had been extremely worried as they couldn’t reach her despite multiple attempts.”
Learning that the elderly lady resided in Bukit Panjang, Sgt Nasri offered to take her home. However, her daughter had already arranged to pick her mother up from the NPC.
After informing the NPC officers that the elderly lady would be brought home safely by her family members, Sgt Nasri called his wife before continuing his journey.
The Watch Never Ends
Reflecting on this experience, Sgt Nasri felt a sense of fulfilment. “I felt happy that my small gestures helped the elderly lady return home safely,” he shares. “Even my wife praised me for reacting quickly!”
For Sgt Nasri, stepping in to help was second “Although I was off-duty at the time, I believe my responsibility to others extends beyond official hours,” he says. “When I encountered the elderly lady in distress, I knew I had to help her to safety.”
His strong sense of duty underscores a broader message he hopes to convey to the public, that we should look out for one another, especially the vulnerable. Sgt Nasri concludes: “By supporting each other, we can build a safer community for all!”
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