Top Ayr cop is honoured

Nov 6 2009 by Cheryl McEvoy, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

IT’S the highest award in the police service, and assistant chief constable John Neilson was thrilled to receive it.

He was presented with the Queen’s Medal by Prince Charles, after travelling from his Ayr home to Buckingham Palace.

Mr Neilson was given the award in the Queen’s birthday honours list, 34 years after he joined the police as a cadet.

He said: “This has been a truly memorable experience for me and my family.

“The trip to the palace was terrific and we all enjoyed it immensely.

“I am obviously delighted and deeply honoured to receive this award, but I must also thank the staff of Strathclyde Police and the force executive for all the support I have had over the years.”

Mr Neilson spent two years as a cadet before becoming a police constable in 1977 and working mainly in Lanarkshire.

He worked in various departments, including CID and traffic. He was also seconded to Oban in 1988, before being promoted to patrol sergeant and posted to Glasgow city centre.

Mr Neilson went on to become uniform inspector on the south side of Glasgow and to work in Strathclyde Police personnel department.

Mr Neilson went on to be promoted to superintendent, based in Hamilton, and served as deputy divisional commander for South Lanarkshire division.

In 2004 he was promoted again to chief superintendent in charge of North Lanarkshire division, where he served for a year before being appointed assistant chief constable in May 2005.

Mr Neilson is currently responsible for community policing and providing support to divisional commanders. His other duties include football anti-sectarianism, and he chairs the force tactical, tasking and coordination group, the football mentoring group and divisional commanders’ meetings.

Mr Neilson is married with four children.