FOR corporals Junior Thompson and Moesha Allen as well as Sergeant Shantel Watson, their year as top cops has proven to be quite momentous.

The 2024-2025 Lasco/JCF Saluting Our Heroes awardees led transformative, community-focused initiatives and were all promoted within the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

The three law enforcers were recognised by the Lasco Chin Foundation (LCF) for outstanding service last October and were later surprised with promotions announced during the awards ceremony. The gesture, which broke with JCF tradition, was widely seen as a dual endorsement of their leadership and the growing importance of police making an impact in the communities they serve.

As the foundation prepares to open nominations for the 2025-2026 awards, last year’s honorees — two former constables and a former corporal — reflected on how the recognition has shaped their work and expanded their reach.

Corporal Thompson, who was named the 2024 Lasco Chairman’s Award winner, said the honour provided a platform to elevate his initiatives and enter conversations around national development.

“Receiving the Lasco Chairman’s Award truly expanded my reach, giving me a seat at the table in important conversations about community and nation-building,” he said. “It’s laid a solid foundation for future success and opened the door for even greater impact.”

Corporal Moesha Allen (left), Corporal Junior Thompson (centre) and Sergeant Shantel Watson proudly celebrate their achievements with trophies in hand at the 2024-2025 Lasco/JCF Saluting Our Heroes Awards ceremony.

In addition to overseeing operations at Area 5 Headquarters in the St Andrew North Police Division, Thompson leads the Cassava Piece Youth Employment and Education Centre — a facility in the same inner-city community in which he grew up.

“I want the legacy of today’s JCF to reflect a force that’s driven by transformation — a force for good, where every officer understands their role in building a better nation,” Thompson explained.

The Cassava Piece Youth Employment and Education Centre hosts English and mathematics Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) classes, reading sessions for both children and adults, and community events through the Constant Spring Police Youth Club.

With help from the foundation and Lasco ambassadors from the Nurses Association of Jamaica, Thompson led renovation efforts at the facility on Labour Day. He recalled the space prior to its transformation as “not a place that you could sit and learn”, citing poor ventilation and poor infrastructure.

The police corporal is positioning the centre as a hub for learning and growth. He hopes to evolve the space into a skills training centre, offering courses in barbering, construction, and electrical installation once it is fully furnished.

Last month, he hosted a back-to-school treat, distributing school supplies to 50 students during a day filled with fun activities and refreshments.

Meanwhile, Corporal Allen — the first runner-up for the 2024 Police of the Year title — now serves as the sub-officer in charge of the Community Safety and Security Unit in the St Andrew South Police Division and is the founder of Helping Youth Pursue Excellence (HYPE) Mentorship Programme, which supports at-risk youth. Allen was also honoured with a Prime Minister’s Youth Award for Excellence for her contributions to nation-building.

“I’ve seen, up close, the struggles that many communities face — the same kind I now serve — because I was born in one of them,” said Allen, who is originally from Rockfort, East Kingston. “I witnessed the effects of crime, family breakdown, and limited opportunities, and I knew I wanted to help make a difference.”

She said the foundation played a critical role in supporting her HYPE initiative, especially through sponsorship of a three-week summer reading camp. More recently, she hosted a back-to-school treat for more than 500 children, distributing school supplies, refreshments, and laptops.

“Being named a Lasco ambassador validated the work I’ve been doing in schools and communities. It reassures stakeholders that these [community] efforts are worth supporting,” she said.

Allen’s work extends beyond events. As a trained mentor with the Ministry of Justice’s National Child Diversion Programme, she focuses on behaviour modification, conflict resolution, and building self-respect among youth.

“Policing for me is not just about enforcing the law, it’s about building trust, restoring hope, and creating safer communities,” said Allen, who is also an ordained evangelist.

In th meantime, Sergeant Watson, the second runner-up and a near 10-year veteran of the JCF, serves Area One of the Community Safety Branch. Her initiatives include a breakfast feeding programme in Salt Spring, a St James community that often grapples with high levels of violence and poverty.

“Nutrition and technology are two vital areas for community development, as they promote growth and productivity,” Watson noted.

The feeding programme has led to improved school attendance and deeper engagement between police and families.

Corporal Moesha Allen (second right) of the St Andrew South Police Division, first runner-up in the Lasco/JCF Saluting Our Heroes competition, officially launched a community youth football tournament in Majesty Gardens through the Police Youth Club earlier this year. Here she presents a gift basket courtesy of Lasco to one of the participants.

“As we meet the needs of these students, their parents are able to not just trust us, but partner with us,” she said. “That makes policing easier and more effective.”

Watson also hosts a weekly radio programme, providing safety tips, fielding questions, and strengthening the connection between law enforcement and the public.

“People locally and abroad were able to access information and feel involved in what was happening in Area One with their police and their communities,” she said.

She credits the Saluting Our Heroes programme for helping officers become better advocates for their projects.

“It’s an avenue to help build effective leaders who can confidently communicate their projects to wider audiences to help the public and stakeholders know the work officers of the JCF are doing in the communities,” she said.

Reflecting on the honorees being promoted, which was announced by Commissioner of Police Dr Kevin Blake at last year’s awards ceremony, Watson said: “Being recognised for community work is one thing, but having it influence my advancement in the force was unforgettable. That moment with Commissioner Dr Blake is something I’ll always treasure.”

The annual Lasco/JCF Saluting Our Heroes Awards is a private sector initiative celebrating excellence in policing.

This year’s awards ceremony is slated to take place on Friday, October 24, 2025 under the theme ‘Transforming through PQT: Celebrating Our Heroes’.

Now in its 25th year, the programme honours police across the island who exemplify integrity, service, and a commitment to nation-building. Winners are selected based on operational performance, community involvement, leadership, communication, and national awareness. The programme’s highest honour, the Chairman’s Award, recognises one officer whose work stands out for long-term impact.