Special Corporal Joseph Edwards (right) receives his winning trophy from Special Inspector Christopher Bowen, for being Special Constable of the Year 2007 on Wednesday at Harman Barracks, during the Island Special Constabulary Force annual Commandant's Parade, Special Constable of the Year Award and Christmas party. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

Special Corporal Joseph Edwards, of the Peer Counselling Unit at Harman Barracks, St. Andrew, was on Wednesday named Special Constable of the Year 2007.

Sp. Corp. Edwards, who joined the Island Special Constabulary Force in 1999, took the award from a field of 28 other colleagues.

Shortly after being presented with the award at a ceremony filled with pomp and pageantry at Harman Barracks, Sp. Corp. Edwards told The Gleaner that if more policemen exercised professionalism on the job, fewer would be gunned down.

With 20 policemen killed since January, Sp. Corp. Edwards said self-preservation was important but work and play should not be intertwined.

Stand tall

"The majority of persons out there see the work of the police as counter to their advancement. Stand tall and look out," he said.

"To citizens also, the police is not an enemy once you are doing what is right. Once you follow the laws that are laid down you would never have a run-in with the police," he added.

Special Sergeant Noel Daley and Special Corporal Horatio Rowe, both of the Jamaica Police Academy, got the second and third place awards, respectively.

For being named the top special constable, Corporal Edwards received $250,000 and a trophy donated by the Jamaica Special Constable Co-operative Credit Union.