Mandy_Goh

Mandy Goh

Mandy Goh

Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police

Mandy Goh Peng Neo (born 1935) was the first woman to be the chief of the Anti-Vice Enforcement Unit in the Criminal Investigation Department of Singapore, the first woman to achieve the rank of Senior Assistant Superintendent of the Police, and was the second woman to hold the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police in Singapore.

Biography

Goh joined the Singapore Police Force on 2 January 1952 as a woman constable, just over a month after she had completed her Senior Cambridge examinations, despite her being seventeen at the time, while the age requirement was eighteen.[1] Her parents were against her joining the police force, as they believed that being a policeman was a "man's job".[2] She spent five years with the Criminal Investigation Department before being transferred to the Central Police Station to head the women operation recruits, and later moved to the police academy to train woman constable recruits.[3] In 1958, she received a Certificate of Commendation for helping catch an extortionist.[4][5]

Goh was appointed the head of the Anti-Vice Enforcement Unit in August 1982, taking over from acting Deputy Superintendent Chan Kok Guan, becoming the first woman to head the unit.[6] In 1983, under her leadership, the Anti-Vice Enforcement Unit was awarded its first certificate of commendation by Police Commissioner Goh Yong Hong.[7] She was promoted to the rank of Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police on 1 October 1984, being her the first woman to achieve the rank in Singapore, and making her the then-highest ranked policewoman, overtaking the previous record set by Mary Quintal, who was an Assistant Superintendent of Police.[8]

Goh retired on 4 January 1988, with her role as head of the Anti-Vice Enforcement Unit being taken over by Deputy Superintendent Yee Teck Yong.[9][10]

References

  1. [1]
    Tan, Sumiko (5 July 1987). "Top woman cop Mandy busts vice operations with a vengeance". The Straits Times. Singapore. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  2. [2]
    "Women in blue". The Straits Times. Singapore. 12 June 1973. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  3. [3]
    "Anti-vice squad chief Mandy retires". The Straits Times (Overseas Ed). Singapore. 9 January 1988. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  4. [4]
    Ee, Boon Le (5 April 1959). "Women police tops as undercover agents". The Straits Times. Singapore. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  5. [5]
    "Award for officer who helped trap death letter man". The Straits Times. Singapore. 28 September 1958. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  6. [6]
    "Mandy to be first woman head of Singapore's anti-vice unit". The Straits Times. Singapore. 15 July 1982. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  7. [7]
    "Anti-vice unit scores another first". The Straits Times. Singapore. 5 October 1983. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  8. [8]
    "Mandy Goh promoted to senior ASP". The Straits Times. Singapore. 6 November 1984. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  9. [9]
    "Woman chief of anti-vice unit retires". The Straits Times. Singapore. 5 January 1988. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  10. [10]
    Tan, Sumiko (9 January 1988). "Vivid memories of a retired anti-vice chief". The Straits Times. Singapore. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
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