SCDF officer faces charge in connection with the tragic death of 19-yr-old SCDF NSF

A palpable tension shrouds the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) as it grapples with the aftermath of the tragic death of Sergeant 1 (SGT1) Edward H Go, a 19-year-old full-time national serviceman (NSF), and the ensuing legal and procedural ramifications.

The Singapore Police Force stated on Saturday (14 Oct) that a 38-year-old SCDF officer, who acted as the superior of SGT1 Go during the fateful operation on 8 December 2022, will be charged on 16 October (Monday) for allegedly violating standard operational procedures, leading to the tragic incident.

The charge, slated under Section 338(a) of the Penal Code 1871, accuses the officer of causing grievous hurt by a rash act which endangers life or the personal safety of others.

A conviction could result in a penalty of up to four years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

According to the police, the officer allegedly left SGT1 Go alone in the fire-engulfed unit in Block 91 to combat the blaze independently, without notifying any team members, starkly contravening SCDF’s standard firefighting protocols.

The death, certified by autopsy as suffocation due to a depleted air cylinder, was not linked to equipment failure, as per investigative findings.

However, the circumstances surrounding the incident have catapulted the SCDF into a thorough introspective review of its operational protocols and safety measures.

SCDF Commissioner Eric Yap, in a press briefing held at the SCDF’s headquarters in Ubi, expressed that the charged officer defied the SCDF’s firefighting doctrine by leaving SGT1 Go unaccompanied in the unit.

Moreover, another officer, implicated in having potentially compromised the overall safety of the firefighting operation upon assuming command, has been referred by the police to SCDF for further investigations concerning the incident.

Pending these investigations, the officer has been reassigned to a non-supervisory and non-operational post.

SGT1 Go’s demise, occurring amidst the hazardous operation at Henderson Road, where firefighters forcefully entered a smoke-engulfed, two-room unit on the fourth floor, has spurred SCDF into initiating a comprehensive review of its firefighting methodologies, safety measures, equipment, and training.

Commissioner Yap noted, “The SCDF doctrine on firefighting is consistently and systematically imparted to our officers and is a practiced norm on the ground. However, moving forward based on the internal review group’s recommendation, enhancements, including an emphasis on command responsibility and exercises to assess their command and control abilities, will be instated.”

An audit of over 260 firefighting operations, conducted between January 2021 and December 2022, was undertaken as part of the review to assess the competence and safety of command and control within operations.

Though deemed competent and safe, occasional individual lapses were identified, which, according to Yap, are not uncommon in dynamic, high-stakes operations such as firefighting.

To mitigate such lapses, the SCDF has fortified measures, ensuring that equipment is diligently checked upon arrival before entry into fire sites and stressing the criticality of adherence to operational protocols.

In a poignant tribute and sombre reflection of the perilous nature of their duty, the SCDF held a ceremonial funeral last December to honour the brave and dedicated NSF.

The funeral, organized with the concurrence of the NSF’s grieving family, stood as a solemn remembrance and a heartbreaking farewell to a young life dedicated to service and bravery.

The NSF was also posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant 1 (SGT1) from the rank of Corporal and given full ceremonial honours during a “last call” symbolised by the sounding of fire call alarms across SCDF’s 23 fire stations as well as its headquarters, division HQs and the Civil Defence Academy.

In previous statements, the SCDF meticulously outlined SGT1 Go’s training and operational history, painting a picture of a committed young man, singularly devoted to his duty and service. SGT1 Go enlisted with the SCDF to serve his National Service on 5 January 2022 and embarked on a rigorous 12-week firefighter training course starting on 3 February 2022.

He successfully completed his training on 28 April and was subsequently posted to the Central Fire Station on 4 May 2022, after demonstrating his proficiency by successfully completing his firefighter course.

Prior to his enlistment, SGT1 Go was certified as medically fit and assessed to be of Physical Employment Standards’ (PES) A, according to the SCDF.

As per the Central Manpower Base’s website, individuals within PES A and PES B1 are suitable for frontline operational vocations, reflecting a high level of physical fitness and readiness.

It was mentioned that after completing his firefighter course, he responded to more than 20 fire and rescue incidents, highlighting his active engagement and dedication to his role.