#TopCop Award winner announced at first award ceremony

Police officers and members of Douglasdale Police Station gathered at the first-ever Top Cop Awards ceremony on 17 June to witness Sergeant Nicholus Mokwena being recognised as the Top Cop for the month of May.

Mokwena, who was voted for numerous times by community members, and seen to be always striving to go beyond the call of duty in order to serve his community said, “I do not know how to express my happiness as it is good to see that the community values and recognises the efforts we make to keep them safe. This also assures and builds the relationship we have with them.”

The Top Cop Award winner of the month explained that he has never won anything as big and believed that it was the start of many more wins to come. He received a certificate and R500 for being nominated for the Top Cop Award, and also received R2 500 for being the overall award winner of the month.

Read: Community joins hands for Top Cop Awards

“I would like to thank all my [police] members for giving me all the back-up that I needed to execute my duties, as well as my commanders for also helping me, most especially, Colonial Alpheus Mohale, who has played a role in assisting me in helping the community. I am also grateful to Auto & General for the opportunity of awarding us with money and I intend to help induct other members to see the meaning behind these awards,” Mokwena expressed.

“I intend to spoil my family with the money that I have received because I am hardly at home as I am always busy here at the station. I either get home late in the evenings or I am mostly at work during weekends, busy on projects to aid the community such as community interaction with police; crime awareness campaigns; school searches for different drugs and weapons; and foot patrols, where we patrol in areas that are identified as hotspot areas,” he said.

The CEO of Auto & General Insurance, Tom Creamer, who was present at the award ceremony said, “These awards are to show how much we value our police officers who are dedicated to keeping the community safe and crime free. We can see that your jobs are very important and we appreciate everything you do for our community.”

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Auto & General Insurance also gave Detective Constable Sithembiso Mthembu and the late Detective Constable Thabo Selekedi, who were nominated in the Best Member Detectives category for the Top Cop Awards, R500 each. Instead of sharing award money, the insurance company decided to give Mthembu R500 and the late Selekedi’s family R500. Selekedi passed away earlier this year, after being involved in a tragic car accident while on duty.

Douglasdale Police Station commander, Brigadier Lettie Hugo concluded, “We, as the police, are the thin blue line but through partnerships like these, we will be able to boost the morale of our members and continue to strive for service and excellence that will make Douglasdale shine as a beacon to other police stations.”

She added that the work they do is not often seen by others, but this acknowledgement of their members will strengthen their relationships with the community and will ensure that they are, indeed, partners in the fight against crime. “Sergeant Mokwena’s passion and commitment to his job are amazing and his willingness to always go the extra mile to help others makes him, indeed, a winner who makes me very proud.”

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Details: 011 699 1300.

Read: Recognised and nominated for Top Cop Award