Rain or shine, at every hour of the day, our TP officers are on patrol to keep our roads safe. Cpl (Ret) Mahdi and SSSgt Woo Bo Wei share their experiences in traffic policing!
By: Rose Maswida
Deep into the night, with shadows stretching long under the streetlights, the adrenaline is pumping as an errant driver refuses to stop at a roadblock.
Swerving wildly, the driver takes off, the roar of the engine and smell of exhaust fumes enveloping the Traffic Police (TP) Patrol Officer manning the roadblock.
But the TP officer’s focus remains unchanged – to ensure the safety of road users and capture the fleeing driver.
For TP Patrol Officers, high-risk scenarios are part of the job and require unwavering concentration. Police Life speaks with past and present TP Patrol Officers – retired Corporal (Cpl) Mahdi and Senior Staff Sergeant (SSSgt) Woo Bo Wei – to learn why they're committed to keeping our roads safe.
The Past: Wheels of Time
Cpl (Ret) Mahdi joined the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in 1962 as a Mobile Squad Officer (now known as a Patrol Officer). Stationed at the TP Headquarters, which was then at Maxwell Road, his job responsibilities included conducting patrols, ensuring road safety, taking enforcement actions against errant motorists and attending to road accidents.
“At that time, motorists and pedestrians were less mindful of traffic rules compared to today,” he shared, “so our case load was very heavy due to the number of traffic violations.”
Cpl (Ret) Mahdi recalled his first high-speed chase, which took place in the 1970s when he pursued a group of riders who were involved in illegal races along Stadium Road.
“High-speed chases were challenging because our motorcycles were extremely heavy,” he said. “They required multiple kick-starts to get them running and were difficult to handle, unlike today, when you can just press a button to start the motorcycle, and they're easier to ride.”
What drove Cpl (Ret) Mahdi was a determination to serve justice: “I didn’t feel afraid during the chase as I only had one aim: I must get them!”
Cpl (Ret) Mahdi’s bike-handling skills were also sharpened due to his role when performing motorcycle stunts for events such as Police Week (now known as Police Day). These displays were a crowd favourite. “We were trained in criss-cross riding stunts, also known as ‘Motorcycle Gymkhana’,” he recalled. “We’d practise for three months before each public event as such stunts require extensive training to ensure that the show goes smoothly.”
Having served as a TP officer for 22 years, Cpl (Ret) Mahdi said one of his proudest moments was being assigned to escort duties for Singapore's first President, the late Mr Yusof Ishak. “It was a prestigious duty for our team to escort the President,” he shared. “I also had the honour of escorting our second President, the late Dr Benjamin Sheares, to several events.”
The Present: A “Tyre”-less Dedication
Fast forward to today, when our TP officers face similar challenges, but now have modern tools and technologies to keep Singapore’s roads safe. SSSgt Woo Bo Wei is a Special Operations Team (SOT) Officer with the TP’s Patrol Unit. He started his SPF journey in 2012 and was posted to TP as a Patrol Officer in 2013.
SSSgt Woo joined the SOT in 2018. His responsibilities include escorting VIPs and conducting targeted enforcement operations against errant road users.
One challenge that SSSgt Woo faces on the job is handling uncooperative traffic offenders. “While we’re trained to manage these offenders, it could be challenging at times as they could be difficult and demanding. We have to maintain our composure and be professional always when handling them.” he explained.
SSSgt Woo’s first high-speed chase was etched in his memory. “It was a case involving a driver who evaded a roadblock,” he said. “We followed his vehicle for 30 minutes because the driver had refused to stop, and the pursuit took us across various parts of Singapore.”
The chase ended when SSSgt Woo managed to safely stop and arrest the errant driver. Recalling the moment, he continued: “My mission was clear: to stop him without endangering the lives of other road users including that of the errant driver."
In addition to his duties as a SOT officer, SSSgt Woo has also been a member of the National Day Parade motorcade team since 2019. This year’s Parade is extra-special for SSSgt Woo as he’ll be the lead officer of the Prime Minister’s motorcade.
“It feels very special to me as my seniors always tell us that we’re the chosen few to perform this duty,” he expressed with pride. “I’m excited because coincidentally, this is also PM Lawrence Wong’s first National Day Parade as Prime Minister, and I’m looking forward to this special day!”
In a Higher Gear
As both officers shared their experiences, one thing they agreed on was that TP officers are now better equipped for effective policing. “Today, TP officers are equipped with enforcement cameras to detect offenders and have better equipment and vehicle, from helmets to motorcycles, which would allow officers to carry out their duties safely.” said Cpl (Ret) Mahdi.
SSSgt Woo chimed in: “Yes, when I first joined the TP, we rode Yamaha Diversion motorcycles, but in 2020, we changed to the BMW R1250RT, which has advanced safety features such as an anti-lock braking system. These enhancements give us more confidence when performing our patrol duties, as we know we can trust our vehicles fully.”
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