TOP COP TITLE REMAINS IN AREA FIVE FOR FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
Area Five has retained the LASCO Top Cop title for the fourth consecutive year, as Constable Joel Robinson of the St Catherine North Division walked away with the Chairman’s Award and the LASCO Top Cop 2026/2027 title at the 26th staging of the LASCO/JCF Saluting Our Heroes Awards Ceremony. The event was held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Monday, October 12.
The victory marks a momentous occasion for the Area Five team and, by extension, the St Catherine North Division, as the title passes from one member to another, continuing the division’s impressive record in the competition.
Constable Robinson competed against five other finalists: Sergeant Ricardo McCalpin, representing the JCF’s non-geographical formations; Sergeant Darrall Ellis of Area One; Sergeant Saneisha Johnson-Watkis, representing Area Two; Corporal Shevana Burns of the Manchester Division, representing Area Three; and Constable Nicholas Linton, representing Area Four.
Sergeant McCalpin was named first runner-up, while Constable Linton, Sergeant Ellis, Corporal Burns and Sergeant Johnson-Watkis placed third, fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.
Commissioner of Police Dr Kevin Blake encouraged the six finalists and the 159 awardees to “enjoy the moment,” reminding them that they had “earned their places” among those being recognised for their service.
He also reminded the members of one of the fundamental reasons they serve.
“We serve so that people can live [with] greater freedom, confidence and ease of mind,” Dr Blake said.
In closing his address, Commissioner Blake continued what has become a customary highlight of the ceremony by announcing the promotions of Constables Robinson and Linton, and Corporal Burns.
In his acceptance address, Constable Robinson humbly acknowledged the responsibility that comes with the award and reaffirmed his commitment to serving the people of the St Catherine North Division, which he calls home.
“Being entrusted with the LASCO Chairman’s Award has never been about being recognized as the best in the Force, but about being reminded of my duty to give my best to the people we serve. I receive this recognition this afternoon not as a mark of arrival, but as a call to do more,” Constable Robinson said.
That call to do more reflects the spirit of the JCF’s One Force for Good doctrine, which places service and positive impact at the heart of what it means to be a member of the Force. The recognition of these officers is therefore more than a celebration of individual excellence; it is a reminder of the collective responsibility shared across the JCF to use every act of service, every interaction and every opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of people and communities.
For 26 years, the LASCO/JCF Saluting Our Heroes Awards has celebrated excellence within the ranks of the JCF. The prestigious ceremony honours the men and women who have gone above and beyond the call of duty, making lasting contributions to individuals, communities and the organisation they serve.
The list of LASCO Top Cop recipients includes former Senior Superintendent of Police Steve McGregor, the award’s inaugural recipient in 2000, and Corporal Shantel Powell, who passed the mantle to Constable Robinson.
Over the years, the dedication and service demonstrated by these officers and their colleagues have helped transform and redefine what it means to serve within the JCF.
