Sgt. Greg Winokur was selected as the Rotary Club of Bensalem’s Policeman of the Year
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
Sgt. Greg Winokur thought he was presenting an in-depth speech at Michael’s Diner about food baskets for the Bensalem Lions Club. But when he walked into the restaurant and saw his parents smiling suspiciously alongside Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo and director of public safety Fred Harran, he knew something was up.
Every spring, the Rotary Club of Bensalem and Bensalem Township Police Department select one local officer who goes above and beyond their job description to receive the recognition of “Policeman of the Year.” Out of a small pool of eight candidates, Winokur was chosen as the lucky guy.
Though his shock over the surprise honor was evident as he struggled to find words of gratitude, there’s no question it was well-deserved after taking into consideration his work ethic…especially when it comes to preparing speeches. According to his father Mark, Winokur talked to him on the phone for an hour the evening prior, tweaking and editing until it was perfect.
Harran revelled in the fact that his fake speech ploy, which fooled officer Scott Merchiore last year when he was asked to present on school safety, worked once again. He admitted he feels (a little) bad about luring officers to the restaurant under false pretenses, but their stunned reactions are always worth it.
After attendees were settled in with lunch, Harran stepped up to the podium to explain everything Winokur does on a daily basis to deserve the honor of “Policeman of the Year.” Now 39 years old, Winokur was sworn in at 23, holding various positions over the years as he quickly climbed the ladder. He initially started in 1999 as a part-time dispatch receptionist before moving up to probation corporal in 2001.
As of January, Winokur has the gleaming title of “Sergeant” attached to his name.
“It’s a position with more responsibilities, where seconds matter,” Harran said.
But so far, he has risen to the challenge.
Aside from excelling at the basic duties of his job, Harran went on to explain how Winokur constantly puts in extra hours for the betterment of his community, truly embodying the Rotary mantra of “service above self.”
On a volunteer basis, Winokur serves on the force’s major incident response team. He also plays a key role in the Police Athletic League, specifically in hockey. According to Harran, Winokur gives 110 percent to any task or project thrown his way, even if there’s no extra pay. Everything is done efficiently and always with a smile.
Along with his parents, Winokur is also a proud member of the Lions Club, the oldest community service organization in the area dating back to 1948. Every holiday season, the club fills nearly 600 baskets with food to be distributed to locals in need. Since this is an initiative Winokur is particularly passionate about, Harran knew asking him to prepare a presentation on it wouldn’t seem completely out of the blue.
With dedicated, longtime roles as both a Bensalem Township police officer and Lion, Winokur serves as an ambassador for the two, finding ways they can mutually help each other.
“He’s not just an employee of the township,” Harran said. “He’s a partner of the community.”
The ceremony concluded with Harran presenting an engraved plaque to Winokur, followed by a brief photo session with his parents and the Mayor to commemorate the experience.
Though a self-admitted man of few words, Winokur took to the podium to address those in attendance.
“It really is quite an accomplishment,” he humbly said, gripping his plaque.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at [email protected]
