Nine police in line for LASCO Top Cop award

Nine members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) have been shortlisted for the LASCO Police Officer of the Year 2018-2019 award.

They were nominated by members of their community and the JCF in January 2018 and selected from a group of police personnel who stand as beacons of hope and change in their communities.

They are Constable Jordaine Allen from Area 1; Detective Corporal Damiaon Laing from Area 2; Constable Davian Martin from Area 3; Sergeant Jason Rodriques from Area 4; Constable Johnmair Jones from Area 5; Detective Woman Corporal Stacy-Ann Stoner, Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch; Corporal Andrew Williams, Community Safety and Security Branch; Sergeant Florizel Thompson from Motorised Patrol; and Constable Noel Chang of Mobile Reserve.

According to Renee Rose, LASCO Distributors brand manager, the LASCO/JCF Police Officer of the Year programme honours the most outstanding law enforcement has to offer and endorses the practice of community policing, which is central to the concept of community safety.

"The LASCO/JCF Police Officer of the Year programme was initiated to and continues to motivate and publicly acknowledge members of the force who demonstrate outstanding professionalism and dedication," Rose said.

"More importantly, the top-cop programme highlights community policing as a central strategy in community safety and fighting crime in Jamaica. Communities are the foundation of our nation. Therefore, the officer to be bestowed the honour of the title of LASCO Top Cop 2018 will be central to this strategy of promoting community engagements to mitigate crime and will be a role model to everyone they meet," Rose added.

LASCO/JCF Police Officer of the Year 2017/18 Corporal Stokely Fagan hands over the duties at an awards ceremony on May 8 at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston.