Top Cop of the year, Deputy Superintendent Steve McGregor, holds up his trophy at yesterday's awards function at the Hilton Kingston Hotel. - Rudolph BrownSTEVE McGREGOR, whose efforts helped to slash murders in the volatile area of Rockfort in East Kingston by 75 per cent two years ago, walked away with the top cop award yesterday.
An 18-year veteran of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), he won the LASCO Top Cop Trophy, $100,000 and three baskets of LASCO products.
"I am so overcome by emotion...I don't know where to start," he told the awards ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in New Kingston yesterday.
"I am dedicating this award to my family, especially my three children," said the former Kingston College student.
Commended for his approach to community policing, Mc-Gregor, who was recently promoted to Deputy Superintendent, said he attended dances, parties, funerals, football matches, church meetings and meetings with area leaders at a time when gang warfare was ripping apart the area.
The top cop competition, sponsored by LASCO for the first time this year, received 800 nominees, the preliminary selection whittled the number down to 19 divisional winners, from which five were crowned Area winners. The top cop was selected from the five Area winners.
LASCO's Chief Executive Officer Lascelles Chin told the luncheon that in spite of negative response from some quarters he wanted to do this.
"I explained to the critics that we cannot use the reprehensible acts of a few members of the police force to judge honest and committed members who have worked under the most adverse conditions to serve and protect their fellow Jamaicans."
