Sergeant Melanie Hale adjudged “Best Cop” for 2020

The Best Cop prize, which is awarded annually by the Guyana Police Force, was on Thursday awarded to Woman Detective Sergeant Melanie Hale, who has been lauded for her instrumental effort in solving several high-profile murders.
She is currently serving in Region Number 4 ‘A’, and as part of her prize, Hale received a plaque, trophy, $250,000 from the Guyana Police Force, a trip to the Kaieteur Falls from the Roraima Group of Companies, and $150,000 from Queensway Security Service Inc.

The annual prize-giving ceremony was held at the Police Officers’ Mess Annexe, Eve Leary. Present were Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie, National Security Advisor to the President, Captain Gerry Gouveia; and senior ranks of the Force.
Some 2997 ranks were awarded with more than $23 million in cash and incentives for their outstanding work and dedication to service. However, due to the COVID-19 restrictions only a few of the ranks were present to receive their awards.
Ranks from all ten administrative regions were also awarded with plaques and money for their exceptional work in crime fighting, anti-narcotics exercises, traffic control, and enhancing the safety of their communities in which they serve. These ranks were awarded Best Cops for their Regions, and also for Community Policing Groups.

Hale has thanked the Force’s Administration for recognising her efforts, and highlighted her award as a sign of gender equality in the Guyana Police Force.
“It shows clearly that there is gender equality in the Guyana Police Force, and it is evident that women can be just as disciplined, efficient, hardworking, professional, and above all productive, as their male counterparts in the field of law enforcement,” Hale stated.
The Runner-up prize went to Detective Sergeant Leon George, who has been a member of the Force for the past 13 years and is attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the Golden Grove Police Station.
He was instrumental in solving a number of robberies, murders, seizures of narcotics, and also dismantling a ring of persons who were involved in the theft of motor cars.
He received a plaque and $200,000 from the Guyana Police Force, and $100,000 from Queensway Security Service Inc.
Delivering the feature address to the audience was acting Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie, who charged the ranks to be professional when dealing with members of the public.
He also recognised the challenges ranks face, but also acknowledged that, overall, their performance has been creditable.