Auxiliary police officer, 45, graduates as valedictorian from Temasek Polytechnic

Choo Mohamed Johari Bin Mohamed Amin, 45, never thought he would become an auxiliary police officer (APO).

As a kid, there were times when he and his friends would get told off by authorities for disrupting the neighbours with their soccer games.

Disgruntled little Johari would get upset over why those “uniformed groups” were disturbing them when he was just having fun with his friends.

Yet life, as they say, is full of surprises. “Karma comes back to me,” he said jokingly. He became an APO in 2002, and in hindsight, understood why the officers chastised his friends and him in the past.

Johari initially worked in the hotel industry, but the SARS outbreak in 2002 disrupted the tourism sector, prompting him to pivot to a more stable job as an APO.

“I was looking for stability and a meaningful career path when I came across Certis,” he said, adding that he was interested in the idea of protecting critical infrastructure and serving the nation in a uniformed role.

While it wasn’t the career he originally imagined, it gave him the structure and purpose he had been searching for.

Now, Johari has worked at Certis for 23 years, making his way up to become the Deputy Officer Commanding (DYOC) at PUB East.

Throughout his time in Certis, Johari was able to have unique experiences that few others can claim—from guarding key installations at PUB, protecting VVIPs (which he sadly could not disclose), and managing close to 200 officers.

Juggling work, school, and family commitments

With his supervisor’s recommendation, he was sponsored to pursue a Diploma in Policing & Security Management at Temasek Polytechnic (TP), graduating at the top of his class with flying colours in 2025.

However, getting there was no easy journey.

“At first, I was like, what have I landed myself in?” he recalled with a laugh.

Juggling work, family, and educational commitments was no easy feat: Johari’s day typically started early and ended late. During busy periods, he would attend class in the afternoons.

As the oldest student in his class, Johari also admitted he felt “very awkward” at first.

Thankfully, his younger classmates taught him how to use new tech devices and apps that he was not as familiar with.

So what motivated him to keep going when things got tough?

Johari said it was his Certis bosses and colleagues who continuously supported him during the two and a half years it took to pursue his diploma.

His supervisors regularly checked in to ensure he was coping with the demands of work and school.

When schoolwork got too overwhelming, his other colleagues would help cover for him so he could focus on getting his diploma.

Looking back, Johari called it one of the most fulfilling periods of his career, as he felt supported by his colleagues as he juggled school, work, and family responsibilities.

Becoming valedictorian

When Johari first got the call from TP saying that he was selected as valedictorian, he thought it was a scam.

The idea of becoming a valedictorian never occurred to him before.

Johari described himself as “average” at school when he was younger, saying he was “not the smartest, but not the dumbest”.

“Getting the opportunity to study at TP was something I never expected at this stage of life,” he said, adding that graduating as the valedictorian was truly humbling.

The skills he learned during his time at TP, such as conflict management, have also helped him become a better officer and leader at Certis.

Being able to contribute to his officers’ growth at work after graduation was what made the job meaningful for Johari.

He also grew as an individual through the opportunities that he’s received at Certis over the years.

For those interested in joining Certis, Johari shared that so long as they put in the effort and prove their worth, the company would guide them to become good officers.

Certis Earn-and-Learn programme

Inspired by Johari? Certis offers the opportunity for interested individuals to further their studies while working through the Earn-and-Learn Programme (CELP).

Through the programme, new officers can kickstart their careers at Certis and earn a full salary while completing their diploma simultaneously (without paying a single cent).

Plus, new officers are given a bonus of S$30,000, in addition to “a competitive salary package”.

Certis also offers two Work-Study Diploma (WSDip) programmes: a TMC Academy Diploma in Business and an ITE College Work-Study Diploma in Security Operations. Students will also be able to arrange shifts to accommodate school days as required.

You can find out more about Certis and life as an APO here.

This sponsored article by Certis inspired this writer to search up courses to improve herself.

All photos courtesy of Johari.