With her legal knowledge and mediation skills, VSC (Community) officer SC (V) Michelle Cheng hopes to make a difference to community safety!
By: Al Cheng
The Volunteer Special Constabulary (VSC) (Community) scheme was introduced in 2018 to create more opportunities for the public to volunteer with the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and serve the community.
Police Life speaks with Special Constable (SC) (V) Michelle Cheng, who serves at Clementi Police Division, to discover her passion for contributing to the community!
What inspired you to volunteer as a VSC (Community) officer?
I work as a Manager (Strategic Planning) at the Singapore Academy of Law, assisting in the development and implementation of the Academy’s strategic plans.
I’m also a volunteer mediator at the State Courts’ Centre for Dispute Resolution and at the Ministry of Law's Community Mediation Centre. Some of the cases were challenging to mediate and they made me curious about what Police officers must face regularly in the course of their work. I decided that the best way to understand policing work would be to step into the boots of a Police officer and volunteer with the SPF as a VSC (Community) officer. I became an officer in 2022.
What kind of training do you have to go through?
VSC (Community) officers undergo nine weeks of non-residential training conducted on two weekday evenings and occasional Saturday. The training comprises theory and practical components. We’re trained on police procedures, legal knowledge, Police Contact Tactics and first aid.
Describe your roles and responsibilities as a VSC (Community) officer.
We engage the community around Bukit Merah West Neighbourhood Police Centre, in friendly settings such as block parties and community events, to educate residents on crime prevention.
For example, we’ve been raising awareness on the enhanced ScamShield app and suite of anti-scam features. In addition, we conduct patrols at HDB blocks in the neighbourhood as well as at private housing areas on Sentosa Island. Most importantly, we complement regular Police officers in projecting police presence and maintaining public order during major events such as the National Day celebratory events.
Tell us about your experience working at Clementi Police Division.
In one word – great! I take on a good balance of operational and non-operational duties. The variety of work and the opportunity to serve the community in a broader capacity have given me a greater appreciation of the work that the SPF does, in public and behind the scenes. I’m grateful to my supportive VSC supervisors, fellow VSC officers and VSC (Community) colleagues whom I work closely with.
I’m committed to my volunteer duties, setting aside about 12 hours a month, typically during weekends. This allows me to fulfil my role as a VSC (Community) officer while fulfilling my work and family commitments.
What’s your most memorable experience as a VSC (Community) officer?
There’re many but if I have to choose one, it’d be the National Day Parade Preview deployment at the Padang, where I took on crowd control duties. I was teamed up with officers from other Land Divisions as well as Specialist Units, and I learnt much by engaging with them. While structured operational processes give us certainty in conducting our work, it’s the officers who make the SPF a special place to belong to.
What have you found rewarding about your volunteer journey?
We serve a common cause for our community and country. Each of us can play a part in contributing to keep our community safe and secure. This purpose makes my volunteer work meaningful. The little happy moments I’ve gathered along the way will become lovely memories I can look back on. If you’re looking to serve your community, join us as a VSC (Community) officer!
Volunteers in Blue
In this series, we spotlight our dedicated volunteers who serve with passion and commitment across various schemes within the SPF. Read about Sgt (V) Chang Min Xuan’s volunteer journey as a VSC officer, Mr Jita Singh’s journey as a Citizens on Patrol volunteer and Hon ASP (V) Joshua Tan’s journey as an Honorary VSC (School) officer. Stay tuned for our next article!
Ready to embark on a rewarding journey with the SPF and make a difference to the community? Find out how you can join the VSC (Community) here or visit our website to step up to a career that goes beyond.
Explore Our Content
Editor's Pick
