First and only woman in elite police unit is a mum of two

She is also the first female officer to be given the Special Operations Command red beret

- Theresa Tan

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Candy Ko, 32, overcame multiple challenges, such as building up her fitness after piling on 27kg during her second pregnancy and raising a child who had kidney cancer, to become the first and only woman to join the Police Tactical Unit (PTU).

The PTU responds to public order and public security incidents, such as riots and terrorist threats, and is under the Special Operations Command (SOC). The SOC has been described as the Singapore police's elite force.

Officers have to complete a rigorous three-month-long Police Tactical Course, which equips them with the skills and capabilities to deal with public order and public security incidents, to join the PTU.

ASP Ko is the first woman to complete the course and was the parade commander during the graduation ceremony in April.

She said: "I was happy and proud of myself. It was quite tough for me as the course was tiring and intense." ASP Ko also has the distinction of being the first female officer to be given the SOC red beret, a symbol of "bravery and sacrifice".