If you always had the nagging feeling that Singapore police officers can't wait to accost suspects as a group and take them down before using handcuffs to make arrests, all the while not being affected by public comments because they are consummate professionals, here's a video for you showing the flipside of things.

Men and women in blue are also human

For every arrest that the public witnesses and even records on camera for a wider audience to scrutinise subsequently, there is always a backstory as to how things came to be.

The caption of the SPF video said of those in Singapore who chose to don the blue uniform with the aim to serve and protect:

Being at the forefront of law enforcement within the community, our officers are often faced with challenging situations every day that require them to make tough decisions with the interests of the public at heart.

The scenes in the three-and-a-half-minute video highlight how police officers are also members of society with family who can be affected by a public quick to pass judgement based on incomplete information.

Even though the video is dramatised and focused on a father-daughter relationship, the message is that the backlash can be demoralising, when those who chose to go into the vocation did so because they want to be police officers who do what is right and necessary.

Background

The video was released on June 3, 2021, which is Police Day in Singapore.

It shows what happens on the other hand whenever the public turns on the police officers who are seen in their line of work making arrests and restoring peace in society.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) held the Police Day Observance Ceremony 2021 on June 3, 2021.

Police Day has been commemorated annually on this day since 1971.

The annual Police Day celebrates SPF’s achievements, recognises the contributions of past and present officers, and brings officers together to renew their pledge to serve Singapore and to carry out our duties.

SPF marked this year’s Police Day with a virtual Police Day Observance Ceremony, instead of the traditional Police Day Parade.

It was attended virtually by more than 2,200 officers from various SPF units island-wide.

Singapore obtained self-government on June 3, 1959, which has been recognised as the day that SPF first became accountable to the people of Singapore.

The designation of June 3 as Police Day in Singapore was announced in 1971.