Police refute claims of bullying by officers who were actually helping elderly woman find way home

SINGAPORE — Refuting online posts accusing their officers of bullying an elderly woman in Yishun, the police said the truth was that they were helping her find her way home.

The posts had alleged that four officers had clustered around an elderly woman who took off her mask because she was feeling breathless and had continued telling her off even though she wore a mask later.

The posts also claimed that a passer-by had to step in to “salvage the situation”.

“These allegations are not true,” the police said in a statement on Wednesday (May 19). 

Setting the record straight, the police said that their officers had responded to an incident on Monday evening at Block 735 Yishun Avenue 5.

A maskless elderly woman appeared to be lost and they were helping her find her way home.

A female passer-by gave the 85-year-old woman a mask and a police officer helped her to put it on because she could not do it herself. 

A male passer-by handed her some masks as well, which the woman accepted.

The police commended the two passers-by who came to the woman’s aid.

“We are heartened by the kind actions of those in the community who stepped forward to offer their assistance, to make our community a safe and secure place to live in.”

With the help of a member of the public, the officers learnt that the woman lived nearby. She is believed to have dementia.

The woman’s domestic helper later arrived to take her home after being alerted.

“As the incident took place during dinnertime, our officers were concerned that the elderly woman might be hungry and bought food for her as well.”

Saying that they take a “serious view” of such malicious allegations, the police noted that the authorities were looking into the circulation of the falsehood.

They advised members of the public against spreading unverified information or making conjectures about incidents, and to be responsible when posting or sharing information online.