Post-retirement, Paul Cheong and Jaclyn Foo have transitioned into the front lines of community policing as members of the Volunteer Special Constabulary (Community). Through their deep-seated empathy for supporting vulnerable seniors and educating the next generation, they have found a shared purpose that not only strengthens the community’s resilience but also deepens their personal relationship.
Did you know that Singapore has a force of volunteer Police officers? Set up in 1948, the Volunteer Special Constabulary (VSC) supports the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in its operations and functions. In 2018, the VSC (Community) unit was formed to enhance community engagement. Drawn to this mission, Paul Cheong and Jaclyn Foo, both 58, joined the VSC(C) in 2023. To Paul, who served his national service in the Singapore Armed Forces and Singapore Civil Defence Force, joining the VSC(C) and donning its uniform also meant contributing more in a different capacity.
Married with two children, Paul and Jaclyn work as freelance safety and first aid trainers. Volunteering, however, has always been part of their lives. Previously, they had served a two-year stint as Silver Generation Ambassadors, reaching out to seniors and connecting them to care services and resources. For the couple, volunteering provides them with a shared touchstone and purpose.
Like all other VSC officers, signing up went beyond the thrill of donning a uniform. To prepare for their role, Paul and Jaclyn underwent comprehensive training thrice weekly, over a period of seven weeks. They learnt about the Singapore Constitution, legal knowledge, police procedures, unarmed combat tactics, and first aid. In their cohort of thirteen trainees, Jaclyn stood out as the only female. While she embraced the challenge wholeheartedly, having Paul by her side proved invaluable. As her regular sparring partner, he offered consistent encouragement and a steady presence, helping her build confidence through the physically demanding aspects of training. Their shared experience sharpened their individual skills and deepened their partnership, as they motivated each other through the intensity of training together.
After her training, Jaclyn was deployed to the Community Policing Unit (CPU) at Clementi Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC). Her role involves patrolling areas with high commuter traffic, where a visible police presence serves as a deterrent to crime and helps to reassure the public as they go about their daily commute.
Jaclyn’s duties also include visiting preschools to educate children on safety and security and the role of the Police. These sessions cover “stranger danger,” road safety, and basic SGSecure concepts like what to do during an emergency. “The children pick up these tips and concepts quickly,” she said. Their excitement heightens when they get the opportunity to sit inside a police car and experience the siren and flickering lights. “They tell us they want to be Police officers when they grow up,” Jaclyn shared happily.
Beyond schools, Jaclyn faces the challenge of educating seniors on digital threats. Many elderly residents believe that locking their doors and refusing to answer the phone keeps them safe. Jaclyn dismantles this false sense of security by sharing real-life scam cases, helping seniors download the ScamShield app and introducing them to the 1799 anti-scam hotline. “It really helps when there is a human they can talk to, they feel more confident,” Jaclyn said, sharing that seniors often feel deterred when they encounter automated helplines.
While Jaclyn patrols Clementi, Paul is attached to Bukit Merah West NPC. Bukit Merah has a different community profile, with a significant senior population. Volunteers here are attuned to the unique needs of the community, including staying connected with seniors who may be living alone and keeping a lookout for their well-being.
Paul often uses Cantonese and Mandarin to connect with residents. “We try to speak their language so that they can understand us,” he said. His patrols in the surrounding neighbourhood provide a familiar face for residents to share issues such as noise complaints which allows the team to tackle these issues promptly. “They are happy to greet and talk to us when they see us at the coffeeshop, often taking the opportunity to share their concerns or observations about the neighbourhood,” Paul shared.
What sets volunteers like Paul and Jaclyn apart is their deep empathy, often forged through personal hardship. Both have spent years as caregivers for Jaclyn’s mother and sister, who were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. They also volunteer with Dementia Singapore and Mindfull, agencies providing support and training for those facing mental health challenges and their caregivers.
These experiences heavily influence how they interact with vulnerable members of the public. Jaclyn’s years of managing repetitive questions and deteriorating conditions of her loved ones have instilled in her a remarkable level of patience, which Paul acknowledges is considerably greater than his own. In the field, this translates into a listening ear for seniors who may just need someone to acknowledge their existence. When a senior seems to be taking a long time to explain something, “Don’t interrupt them… they want somebody to empathise [with] their situation,” Jaclyn advises.
For this husband-and-wife duo, the VSC(C) has provided a shared purpose and a way to strengthen their mutual understanding and bond. “The VSC(C) training course and our shared deployments gave me an opportunity to feel Paul’s care and concern for me,” Jaclyn shared. Despite serving in different units, both see VSC(C) work as a chance to uncover and learn new things about each other. Knowing about each other’s commitments in the VSC(C) has strengthened their mutual bond. This is reflected in the rapport and instinctive trust they have for each other, as they fill in gaps or elaborate details for one another when sharing their experiences.
Volunteers like Paul and Jaclyn embody an approach that emphasises trust and connection with the people that they work and engage with. Their message to potential volunteers is simple: if you have the heart to talk to people and a desire to share, the VSC(C) scheme offers a frontline opportunity to contribute directly to the community. For Paul Cheong and Jaclyn Foo, serving the community through the VSC(C) began at 55, and they show no signs of slowing down at all.
Want to make a meaningful impact in your community? Explore the SPF volunteer schemes and find out how you can make a visible difference here.
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