Police Announce 2014 Hillsborough Top Cop Winners

The Hillsborough Police Department announced the two recipients of the 2014 Top Cop award, recognizing the performance of its top rated patrol officers.

Hillsborough Police Chief Paul A. Kaminsky announced A squad Patrolman Thomas McLain and B squad Patrolman Craig Heindrichs have each won the award.

McLain, a 16-year veteran of the department, has served in both the patrol and investigative divisions and has received several command citations, including the Medal of Merit, according to the Hillsborough Police. This is his third time receiving the distinction of Top Cop.

Heindrichs, a 13-year veteran of the department, has served with the Patrol Division during his entire time at the Hillsborough Police Department. This is the first time he has been selected as Top Cop, police said.

The Top Cop award, founded in 1996, recognizes the performance of the Hillsborough Police Department’s top rated patrol officers by selecting two officers -- one from each patrol squad -- for the distinction each year. The recipients are selected based upon a score from their annual job performance, as well as a ranking achieved from their respective supervisors and peers.

After winning the award, a special award bar is presented to each officer to be worn above his uniform badge. Additionally, the officers’ names will be engraved on a plaque displayed in the lobby of the Hillsborough Police Headquarters, memorializing each year’s winners.