SERGEANT Linroy Edwards was overcome with joy yesterday when RJR Communications Group head of news, Moya Thomas, announced his name as the Lasco Top Cop for 2006, during a luncheon at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.

Edwards, a member of the Special Anti Crime Task Force, was chosen from a field of 10 police officers from various departments of the constabulary.

He received a cash prize of $200,000 ($100,000 more than previous winners), a three-year scholarship valued at $300,000 and a trophy.

Edwards is the first cop who works on the front-line to have been given the coveted award. He was one of six cops acquitted in connection with the fatal shooting of seven men at a house in Braeton, St Catherine in 2001.

“I pledge on behalf of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and God Almighty to continue to fight crime,” Edwards said to loud applause during his acceptance speech.

He had several in stitches when he repeated part of an ad from a product distributed by the sponsor of the event, the Lasco Group. “Like Miss Little, Lasco mackerel and rice is my favourite,” Edwards said.

In delivering the keynote address, Professor Nigel Harris, vice chancellor of the University of the West Indies, pointed to the high price the country was paying because of crime.

“In 2001, mortality due to crime cost Jamaica $194.1 million and injury due to crime cost $337.2 million. Data for the same year indicated that the overall cost of crime amounted to approximately $12 billion or three per cent of GDP,” Harris said.

Edwards was selected from a field of 10 cops, which included one woman sergeant – Angella Williams – from the Police Area Three Division.

Constable Julio Francis of Area Two, was awarded the second runner-up spot, while Sergeant Gary McKenzie of the Traffic Division was named first runner-up.

Both cops received $50,000 and $100,000 respectively. In addition, McKenzie will receive a one-year scholarship valued at $100,000.