Providing Guiding Light
By Jean Toh
Hello fellow colleagues!
I’m Jean, the new Student Guidance Officer (SGO /STSS) stationed at ITE College Central (Bishan Campus). I have just retired from the Police Force after 30 years of services.
It was a large chunk of my working life where I was exposed to a variety of tasks in crime prevention and investigation. In the early part of my police career, I did my fair share of the regular duties inside the station, at the Report room, Lock-Up area and the Operations room; lodging and filing reports, searching and escorting accused persons, and responding to calls for police service . I despatched fast response cars to scene, gathered facts of case and managed incidents, etc
There was a time in the mid-eighties when I was a Scene-of-crime officer. I went around with the day investigator visiting crime scenes and while he interviewed victims and took their statements, I dusted and lifted fingerprints (just like CSI!, gathered evidence and took photographs of the scene. I learned a lot then. It was an exciting time of my career.
I was also seconded to the Central Narcotics Bureau for about 7 years as a Narcotics officer. During my stint with them, I conducted drug investigation and participated in raids on drug offenders and traffickers. I also had to supervise a group of ex-drug offenders and inhalant abusers.
Frankly, I have left school for so long I can’t remember how it is like to be in a school environment. Our education system has transformed so much over the years and I must say I am impressed with ITE. Right from the start, the people I met were warm and helpful. Despite their obvious busy schedules, they remain friendly, caring and approachable, making things smooth for me as I settled down in my job. I am touched and grateful.
What else can I do but to do my best in my role as best as I can? Together, I want to contribute positively towards the betterment of ITE; to the young adult learners and my fellow colleagues. I’m proud to be a part of the ITE family.