In recent social media revelations, a henna tattoo artist and former Singapore Police Force (SPF) officer, Fauzella Sahabdin, has come forward to share her harrowing experiences during her time in the force.
The news of police officer Uvaraja S/O Gopal’s death triggered painful memories of the alleged torment she endured, as she took to Facebook to recount her experiences, according to MustShareNews.
Scars of trauma
The former SPF officer recollects that while there were some supportive superiors, others subjected her to a difficult and distressing environment, particularly during her initial six months on the job.
She was informed that hazing was allegedly ingrained as a culture at the workplace. These circumstances pushed her to the brink of resignation.
However, she decided to stay when she found understanding and encouragement from a senior officer. Despite persevering for another seven years, the scars of her traumatic experiences still linger.
Ms. Fauzella expressed her grievances on Facebook, stating that she was allegedly often belittled and made to feel inadequate during her time in the force.
Eager to make a positive impact on society, she entered the SPF with high aspirations but was met with a reality far from her expectations. She described her first six months as a hellish ordeal, where insults were allegedly hurled at her incessantly.
The former officer recounted alleged instances of degrading name-calling and even being allegedly labelled a derogatory term by a senior male colleague, who never offered an apology.
The toxic work environment further manifested when she expressed a desire to rest after a night duty rather than joining her team for breakfast, which her team leader allegedly responded by calling her arrogant.
Ms. Fauzella found herself at the receiving end of continuous insults and mockery, becoming a subject of jokes among her colleagues.
A Ray of Hope
Thankfully, a turning point emerged with the arrival of a young inspector named Jason Lim. He took charge as the team leader and promptly acknowledged the existing issues.
He intervened whenever he noticed unfair treatment, effectively challenging the toxic culture. Ms. Fauzella expressed her gratitude to him for providing much-needed support during the most difficult phase of her life.
Sadly, Mr. Lim was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) after a year, and soon after, Ms. Fauzella decided to tender her resignation.
However, she was persuaded to stay by her Deputy Commander, offering a transfer to the training branch. With a promise to accept her resignation if she still felt the same after three months, he managed to convince her to continue for another seven years.
Despite her extended tenure, the trauma from those distressing experiences still haunts Ms. Fauzella to this day. She tearfully admits that the hurt remains, and she remains fearful whenever her sons are out without her, dreading the possibility of them facing similar mistreatment.
A Plea for Respect and Dignity
Reflecting on her past, Ms. Fauzella emphasizes the importance of treating subordinates with respect and dignity. She advocates for an environment where people are not driven to madness merely to feed the ego of their superiors.
Her message rings loud and clear – everyone deserves respect, regardless of their position or experience. Empathy and understanding are crucial, as everyone’s emotional strength varies, and personal growth takes different paths.