Police camp in Coloane
By Isabel Tchu

 

A training session in the police camp.

Everyone has a dream. The dream of 25 people who are being trained in a police camp in Coloane is to become a police officer; they hope to become an outstanding and remarkable member of  law enforcement to protect Macao citizens. 

The life in the camp is memorable, valuable and meaningful. Before they are accepted as police officers, they need to take about six months of training in the Coloane camp. They are trained from 7:30am to 10:00pm Monday to Friday. In the first 10 weeks, they are undergoing the training of basic level -- physical exercise and step drills. They will do more than two hours of physical exercise every morning. The exercise includes running slopes, sit-ups and other different exercises. In the afternoon they will practice steps. 

They will have language courses in Portuguese and Putonghua. They will also learn rules for military officers, knowledge on distinguishing badges and insignias, information about fire control, fire fighting and emergency treatments. 

Afterwards, they will go to the training of professional level. They will start the shooting lessons and courses on law and the legal system in Macao.

Cat Vong, 25 years old, is one of the trainees in the camp. "It is quite hard at first because I did not do a lot of physical training in the past," she said. " The best thing I can get is to improve my physical strength. I did not believe that I could run around the island of Coloane, but I can do it now. I'm very happy. I also find that I've lost 10 pounds after I came to the camp. Everyone says that I'm more healthy and fit than before." 

Another team member, Peter Lei, 22 years old, has been yearning to be a policeman since he was very young. "I find that cooperation is very important in a group," he said. "We are very harmonious and take care of each other. We treat each member like our sister or brother. Though we have been in the camp most of the time during these six months, and we are very tired and miss our parents and friends very much, I'm very excited and willing to do my best as I know that my dream would come true very soon."