Sergeant Gladwin Hanover of Region Two was on Wednesday named the Guyana Police Force Best Cop for the year at the Force’s annual awards ceremony, held at Eve Leary.
For his stellar performance over the year, 32-year-old Hanover, a six-year veteran and an instructor at the Richard Faikal Training School in Region Two, was awarded cash prizes and trophies along with a trip for two to Arrowpoint Resort and Kaieteur Falls and dinner for two at Duke Lodge, compliments of the Roraima Group of Companies.
Hanover was also adjudged the Best Cop of his division. Deputy Commissioner Paul Williams during the awards ceremony said Hanover stepped up to the task to teach officers in training after some posts were left vacant subsequent to the reshuffling of senior officers in the force.
The Best Cop was applauded for his exceptional service and commitment to his job. He was also hailed for training groups of young people at Zara Computer School at the Training College, which he heads.
Speaking to the media briefly after the awards ceremony, Hanover said that he was dedicated to his job and pushed himself to be who he is.
“Press hard. I apply three Ds to myself, that is, determination, dedication, and discipline. With those three Ds, you can’t go wrong in the Guyana Police Force,” he declared and expressed his pleasure at receiving the award.
Hanover explained that he also used the opportunities presented to him to work with youths in the region. “I am a person who is drawn to youths. I like being around young people. It’s been amazing. I find that young people look up to me as a role model and I try to live a life that is pleasing to them as a role model,” Hanover related.
Police Commissioner Leslie James during the awards ceremony said that the awards ceremony is vital to the force as it recognises the work of ranks who would have performed exceptionally over the year.
“The performances of ranks over the past year, in a general way, were in keeping with the Force’s mandate and giving due recognition to those ranks, who understands that sense of duty and performance creditability over the past year,” the commissioner highlighted.
The Top Cop pointed out that as the force continues to fulfill its mandate, changes will soon be visible in the overall management of the force.
“It is expected to see changes in the overall management of our resources, human and otherwise, for a strategic implementation to tackle crime and traffic lawlessness,” he emphasised.
Other awardees included runner up Best Cop, Assistant Superintendent E. Baird, who heads the criminal investigation department in Region 6 (‘B’ Division). Baird was also judged the division’s best cop.
Awards were also presented to other divisional Best Cops who were: Sergeant Clive Clarke (‘A’ Division); Constable David (‘C’ Division); Lance Corporal Douglas (‘D’ Divisional); Lance Corporal Franklin (‘E’ Division), and Constable Gentle (‘F’ Division). Inspector Devon Lowe from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters was also recognised for his work in the past year.
Special awards were also given to the force’s Best Male and Female Sports Personalities as well as the Best Sportswoman and Sportsman and two ranks from the Guyana Defence Force for their work with the police force. This is the first time the force has given awards to members of the joint services.
At this year’s awards ceremony, over 2,600 persons received awards for their performance throughout the year.
The force has expended a total of $21.3 million dollars on awarding the members of the force.
