WESTERN BUREAU:
NINE POLICEMEN and women from across the island were honoured Tuesday at the 2003 LASCO/ Jamaica Constabulary Force Police Officer of the Year award.
The winners were selected from the nine police area divisions islandwide, and were awarded for 'their integrity, professionalism and commitment to the nation'.
They are Sergeant Paul Belvett, Mobile Reserve; Detective Sgt. Paul Bernard, Area Three; Corporal Georgia Brown-Hurd, Office of the Commissioner; Corporal Pollyanna Brown Mullings, Area Two; Detective Lauren Campbell, Criminal Investigation Branch; Inspector Melvin Dennis, Area One; Corporal Judith Pownall, Area Five; Sergeant Robert Taylor, Area Four; and Constable Florizel Thompson, Operations.
Patrick Lawrence, managing director of LASCO Distributors Limited, described the officers as 'unsung heroes' who 'continue to work hard to make this country better for us all.'
He urged all Jamaicans to support the police.
"We have allowed criminality to flourish and then we turn around and conveniently blame the police," he said. "We as Jamaicans must now halt the slide of criminality by supporting the police in their many community outreach activities: neighbourhood watch, police youth clubs, Cops for Christ and school feeding and homework programmes."
Guest speaker, Dr. Wykeham McNeill, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, also appealed to the public to support the police since they "remain the only buffer between the society and criminal elements."
He said the level of trust between the police and the public has been damaged over the years, but not irreparably broken. He urged the police to protect the rights of citizens in their efforts to fight crime.
The honour of 'Police Officer of the Year' is conferred on members of the constabulary who display good work ethics, are actively involved in community policing, establishes and maintains a good relationship with the citizenry, possesses technical skills, awareness of national and international affairs, good communication and deportment and has a congenial personality.
The 'Top Cop' will be selected from the nine and the winner will be announced early next year.
