Honesty, integrity, loyal and trustworthy were words that constantly came from the lips of those paying tribute to the late Deputy Superintendent of Police Edgar Brown.

Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington and Member of Parliament Shahine Robinson, were among hundreds of family, friends and well wishers who packed the large tent erected at Lawrence Park, St Ann’s Bay on Sunday January 2 to bid final farewell at the Service of Thanksgiving for one of whom it was said “stood tall above his peers.”

DSP Brown, who was named Lasco Top Cop for 2001, died of cancer on Sunday, November 28 in the Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. He was 53.

In his message, Pastor Joseph Smith, who pastored Brown twice, and had the distinction of ordaining him as an Elder in the St Ann’s Bay Seventh-day Adventist Church, described him as “a man of impeccable integrity, honest and faithful.”

“This is a heart rending day for the Seventh-day Adventist community in Jamaica,” said Smith. “It is a day when we lay to rest a faithful church Elder, a man of strong values, a dedicated husband and father. He would not even raise his voice in his home lest God be displeased with him. Elder Brown was an obedient servant who was faithful and true to his conscience.”

Smith further added, “Elder Brown recovered and returned over 45 million dollars when the car he was pursuing crashed. This is the character of the man who lies in this casket, a man of impeccable integrity. Jamaica needs more people like this man lying in the casket. We need more people like this from Wall Street to Downing Street, from Downing Street to North Street, from North Street to Main Street, St Ann’s Bay. He was a model Police Officer. His job was his calling. If our teachers and police officers were like that Jamaica would be a better place. Commissioner, you have lost one of your best men that Jamaica could have produce. He was beyond the uniform he wore, he wore Kingdom uniform.”

In September 2008, Brown was presented with the Inspectors’ Branch Board Integrity Award and commended by both Prime Minister Bruce Golding and then Minister of National Security, Colonel Trevor MacMillan, for his role in recovering $45 million dollars from robbers – who had shot and killed a security guard in the process – and returned it to its legitimate owner.

In her testimony of her loving and caring father, daughter Patrice – who was with him in the car during the interception of the robbery and had to follow his instructions to lie low and lock herself in the car with the money- used the opportunity to advise children to obey their parents.

“Children it is important to obey your parents and I am happy I did that day,” said Patrice. “When he placed the bags of money in the car I thought it was drugs. I realized it was money when he took the money to the police station and he submitted every single cent. He was an honest person, (she said crying) because that was millions of dollars but that is not worth anything, honesty is the best policy, my father taught me that. He was a true Christian and if he didn’t teach me anything else, that day he taught me that. Children, you may have a bad relationship with your parents, deal with it now. Love your family. No family is perfect, but when you spend time in communion with God, He will take care of it.”

“Though I am pained, I am consoled with the fact that after 28 years with him I can confidently say that he was genuine, honest, dedicated, self sacrificing, loving and true to what he believes,” stated Brown’s widow Patricia. “I sum him up as a very special husband, father and friend who was a precious and rare specimen of a human being. God regarded me so much that he allowed me to share my life with him, and I am grateful to Him for that.”

Brown was born in Lewisburgh, St Mary, to the late Reuben and Alice Brown on May 4, 1957. He was a member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force for 34 years. He served for 17 years as Constable before rising through the ranks to Deputy Superintendent.

Brown’s immediate supervisor, Superintendent of Police and Commanding Officer for the St Mary Division, Dudley Scott, also lamented his passing, describing him as an officer with a high level of integrity, professional and trustworthy. He said he will remember him as a people person who will always go the extra mile and who was an excellent investigator.

“I recall when he came from the Criminal Investigation Branch in St Ann to take up position as Deputy Superintendent with special responsibility as Community Safety and Security Officer for the parish of St Mary,” said Scott, “There was an upsurge in Enfield District in St Mary, and he was the officer that I assigned to ensure that Enfield gets back to the stage of calm and tranquility. He did so and transformed that area into one where everyone can visit and feel safe. He brought back peace and tranquility to that community. He regained trust and confidence between the community members and the police.”

During the service other tributes were read from the Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and its various Conferences, Northern Caribbean University, family members, relatives and the Jamaica Constabulary Force. The eulogy was done by Charles and Olive Evans, brother and sister-in-law of Brown.

Brown is survived by wife Patricia, three children; Marlon Patrice and Edgar Jr, other relatives and friends.

Nigel Coke is the Communication and Public Affairs & Religious Liberty Director of Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.