POLICE Commissioner Lucius Thomas yesterday promoted 86 members of the constabulary, ranging from the ranks of inspector to senior superintendent.

Among those promoted were the winner of the inaugural Lasco Top Cop Award and commanding officer for the St Thomas Division, Deputy Superintendent Steve McGregor, who has been elevated to superintendent, and the 2006 winner, Linroy Edwards of the Special Anti-Crime Task Force, who has moved from sergeant to inspector. The promotion rounds off a good week for Edwards, who only this week collected a $200,000 cash prize, a $300,000 scholarship and a trophy after being named the top cop.

For McGregor, the announcement of his upward move in the force came as no surprise as he had been acting in the post of superintendent for almost a year.

“It is an honour, but the promotion was expected as I had been doing the work before. I am proud nonetheless,” McGregor told the Observer after being informed of his new status during a closed door meeting with the commissioner at the Police Officers’ Club in Kingston.

Three women are among five superintendents who have moved up the ranks to senior superintendent. The five are Iris McCalla-Gordon of Special Branch; Grace Barnaby-Bloomfield, Protective Services; Laura Bell-Edwards, Administration and Support; Donovan Graham of the Commissioner’s Office and James Palmer, Police Academy.