‘Karate Georgie’ gets kicks out of Heroes Day honour
WESTERN BUREAU:
FORMER POLICE Corporal Clive ‘Karate Georgie’ Lawrence’s exploits have attained legendary status in St James, and he himself was publicly recognised for his heroic deeds on Monday when he was listed among 17 honourees at the 2019 National Heroes Day Civic Awards Ceremony in Montego Bay.
Lawrence, who joined the Jamaica Constabulary Force in 1983 and served in Montego Bay and its environs for three decades, was one of 10 to get the 2019 Mayor’s Special Award.
“I am so humbled to have received an award like this. It’s a nice feeling, a great feeling,” Lawrence told The Gleaner following the ceremony. “This is one of my dreams ... . I was so elated when they told me, and so excited.”
One of Lawrence’s most notable experiences, which was related to the audience while he was receiving his award, was when he foiled a gunman’s attack on a car wash employee in the
Farm Heights community last October.
Lawrence was sitting in his private motor car when the gunman, later identified as Richard McLeish, pulled up on a motorcycle, drew a firearm, and started chasing the employee. The former cop immediately sprang into action and subdued McLeish, who was later sentenced to four years and five months’ imprisonment for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, and assault at common law.
Prior to that incident, in November 2017, Lawrence shot and injured two of six armed thugs who tried to rob him in Russia, Westmoreland. The two injured gunmen were later arrested and charged.
The ex-cop declared yesterday that he was still willing to stand up to criminals.
“As long as breath is in me, I will continue to be a crime-fighter, notwithstanding that I’m no longer in the force. I’m not going to see someone commit a serious crime and turn my back,” he said.