Three officer mums share their stories. <3
By: Domnic Dass and Nurfarahin Hassin
Mother’s Day is an occasion to honour the contributions of mothers and show appreciation for their selfless and unconditional love. Police Life speaks to three awesome ladies in the Force who share how they balance their roles as Police officers and mums.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Khamisah Talip
Chief Investigation Officer (CIO), Investigation Branch, Jurong Division
Briefly share with us your responsibilities at work.
I’ve served in the Singapore Police Force (SPF) for 29 years, and I’ve undertaken many investigative roles. As a CIO, I oversee four investigation teams, and my core duty is to handle reported cases and provide guidance to the IOs in my team.
Tell us more about your children.
I have two daughters and a son. My daughters are 25 and 22 years old while my son is 18 years old. My eldest daughter is married with two daughters of her own. My second child intends to continue her studies, while my youngest is currently a Police National Service officer with the Special Operations Command.
What is your proudest moment as a mother?
One of my proudest moments was when I became a grandmother. Being a mother is indeed special but being a grandmother is an indescribable feeling. I remember fondly the day I held my grandchildren in my arms for the first time. The love you have for your children is multiplied many times over as you gaze upon your grandchildren.
What are some of your challenges as a working mother?
Balancing between family and work commitments can be very challenging at times. Therefore, I make sure that I remain committed to plans, such as when I take leave to spend time with my family. When I’m with my family, I’ll dedicate my attention to them and try not to think about work or do work-related things. But when I’m at work, I’m 200% on it!
How are you able to juggle your responsibilities as a mother and a Police officer?
I’m very blessed that both my husband and I are in the Force, and we apply what we have learnt as officers to our lives. The nature of our work requires everything to be well-planned so that resources can be properly allocated. Using that same approach, my husband and I do a lot of planning in our daily lives in order to balance our time between work and family.
Any advice for future mothers in the Force?
Being both a Police officer and a mother is a double challenge. Never give up. As long as you persevere, and with the support of your family, loved ones and colleagues, both endeavours will be rewarding.
Senior Staff Sergeant Rehka D/O Govindasamy
Community Policing Unit (CPU) officer, Woodlands East Neighbourhood Police Centre
Share with us your responsibilities at work.
I’ve been in the Force for 18 years, with a good 10 years as a CPU officer. I currently oversee youth matters, which involves conducting school talks, building and strengthening our rapport with school leaders, and arranging learning visits to SPF units for the National Police Cadet Corps from secondary schools.
Tell us more about your children.
I’m blessed to have two lovely daughters, currently eight and 12 years old. They bring a lot of joy and excitement to my life. Besides being their mommy, I’m also their teacher, best friend and confidant – you name it!
It’s funny that my two daughters are so similar yet different at the same time. They’re both animal lovers and are artistically inclined. However, my eldest daughter is more adventurous and loves the great outdoors and sports, while my younger daughter is more of a “fashionista” who’s affectionate and curious.
What’s your proudest moment as a mother?
I’m grateful to have experienced many such moments as a mother. If I had to pick a recent one, it’d be when I attended their first piano recital performance. They played Mykola Leontovych’s “Carol of the Bells”, which was amazing. They performed together so well and with such confidence that it brought tears to my eyes. I’m so proud of them!
What are some of your challenges as a working mother?
Like many other working mothers out there, for me, time management is my greatest challenge! Concerted plans must be made to ensure that I’m able to balance my time between my work and my kids. Even if work ends late, I‘ll still make sure that I’m home in time to tuck them into bed and kiss them goodnight.
How do you juggle your responsibilities as a mother and Police officer?
I make a conscious effort to set time aside and spend my weekends with my children doing things that they love, such as watching a movie or going to the beach. After work on weekdays, I use my night-time hours to catch up on any coursework or lessons which I need to complete, so that I can keep my weekends for my children. It’s important that we spend time with our children to build memories.
What are you looking forward to in the next phase of parenthood?
My eldest daughter is turning 13 next year. I’m looking forward to accompanying her on her journey as a friend and pillar of support.
Any advice for future mothers in the Force?
Don’t feel guilty about dividing time between work and your kids. And remember, you don’t have to be perfect. Even the best mothers stress out over whether they’re doing a good enough job because we all love our kids. Parenting is never easy and there are no set rules. Don’t beat yourself up when things don’t work out the way you want them to.
Senior Investigation Officer (SIO) Ms Polly Ng Bao Li
Private Institutional Fraud Branch, Commercial Affairs Department
Share with us your responsibilities at work.
I’m currently an SIO and my work involves recording statements, conducting raids, assessing evidence and following through cases with the Attorney-General’s Chambers and ultimately seeing them through a trial.
As investigators, we also manage all the stakeholders concerned, including complainants, victims and lawyers.
Tell us more about your children.
I have two boys. The eldest is four years old and the youngest was born last year. Many people have told me that they look exactly like their father! My elder son is a very active and jovial boy who loves anything with wheels, while my younger one seems to be quite feisty. He loves kicking and will often roll around when we place him on the playmat!
What’s your proudest moment as a mother?
The moments when they can walk on their own, feed themselves and happily go to school. All these small achievements make me proud!
What are some of your challenges as a working mother?
Rushing to send the children to school in the morning and picking them up after work. There’s little quality time which we can spend with the children on weekdays as we have to rush them through their meals and prepare them for bedtime. We also have to sacrifice our sleep to complete the household chores and any uncompleted work at night.
How do you juggle your responsibilities as a mother and Police officer?
I give my best every day, but it really does take a village to raise a kid! My mother helps me out whenever she’s available. My husband also tries his best to juggle work and family commitments. Ultimately, I’m thankful for a supportive working environment. The people I’ve worked with have been very understanding and kind.
Any advice for future mothers in the Force?
There’ll be good days and bad days. Enjoy the roller-coaster ride!
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