By Jacqueline Carpenter From RCIPS

On Wednesday (20) the RCIPS was delighted to learn that two of its officers, Inspector Leo Anglin and PC Odale Mulgrave, have won top policing awards within the Regional Recognition Awards Programme sponsored by Amalgamated Security Services, Ltd. The awards are granted annually by the Programme to recognize excellence in policing in the Caribbean region, and this is the second year in a row that an RCIPS officer has claimed one of the top awards.

“These successive awards are a profound recognition of the quality of these officers, and the fact that the RCIPS has provided the right environment for them to develop professionally and gain the skills needed to become the outstanding officers they clearly are,” said David Baines, Commissioner of Police.

The top award this year, for Top Caribbean Career Move, was won by Inspector Leo Anglin, RCIPS Marine Commander. Insp. Anglin was born in the Cayman Islands and entered the police service in 2009 in the RCIPS’ first local recruitment class. Recognized almost immediately as a gifted individual with a deep dedication to public service, he was the first recruit to be enrolled in the High Potential Development Scheme, a programme designed by the RCIPS Training Development Unit (TDU) to “fast track” the development of promising young officers by providing them with the opportunities to gain needed experience and skills quickly. After completing his initial recruit training Inspector Anglin was attached to different units within the service, which diversified his skill sets and knowledge. The TDU also arranged for him to sojourn in Government and with major private sector businesses to gain exposure to public sector management as well as top-tier customer service and community relations.

“The intensity of my training presented a bit of a challenge at times, but it undoubtedly provided me with the confidence and the ability to take on the responsibility of leading a police Unit. I’m grateful that the organization saw this potential in me and took this initiative,” says Inspector Anglin. “I am also humbled and honored to be the recipient of such a reward and hope to inspire younger Caymanians to pursue a promising career with the police in order to protect their country and serve their communities.”

Inspector Anglin was promoted to his current rank last year, after only 6 years in the service. The Top Caribbean Career Move award recognizes accelerated professional development by an officer who has also had a noticeable, positive impact on the police service and the community at large. Inspector Anglin will be presented with his award at the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police Annual General Meeting in Suriname in May, and will receive a $5000 USD cash prize.

Two other officers from the 2014 Police Recruit Class, PC Patricia Sevik and PC Andre Savoury, both born in the Cayman Islands, have been identified this year for participation in the HPDS as Inspector Anglin was.

Police Constable Odale Mulgrave, currently the RCIPS School Officer with John Gray High School, has also been recognized for his neighborhood policing work as the second-runner up for the Top Caribbean Community Policing Officer. PC Mulgrave, from Southern Manchester, Jamaica, has been with the RCIPS for for almost 4 years. Before that he served nearly 10 years with the Jamaica Constabulary Force. He has long been known among his colleagues as a kind, hardworking and intelligent officer passionate about community policing. In his current role with John Gray High School PC Mulgrave has engendered the trust of students and faculty alike.

PC Mulgrave is an advocate for strong ties between the police and community. “As a community officer, my colleagues and I have built effective partnerships with the community through a number of programmes and activities. We are intent on expanding these in order to improve public safety and security,” he says. “It has truly been a great experience serving the people of the Cayman Islands.”

Last year Acting Police Sergeant Cornelius Pompey received the Top Caribbean Community Policing Officer Award.

Attached images:  Inspector Leo Anglin and PC Odale Mulgrave