Tributes poured in yesterday for Former Police Commissioner Lennet Maurice Edwards, who died this weekend after a long struggle with cancer.

Mr. Edwards served as Commissioner of the Bermuda Police Service from 1992 to 1995. He was the second black Commissioner and second Bermuda-born Commissioner in the Island?s history.

Mr. Edwards was a 34-year veteran when he stepped down from his top role due to health concerns.

He honoured three times by the Queen for his career in the Bermuda Police Service and was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1997. He also received the Queen?s Police Medal for Distinguished Service and the Colonial Police Medal for Meritory Service.

Premier Alex Scott offered his condolences to the family yesterday and said he had lost a close personal friend.

?I never cease to refer to Mr. Edwards as Commissioner because he remains in my mind a man who always conducted himself, in and out of office, with the quiet dignity of the office.?

?He brought to the office of Commissioner determination and dedication to ensure the Police Force functioned as a service to the community. He wanted to see it move from being a force to a service.?

?I got to know him over time. I got to know the heart and the head of the man, in that even though he retired he continued to think and care about his community and country. He wrote about it in letters to the editor and spoke on radio talk shows. He spoke and wrote with a passion about his hopes for a better community and country. In that regard Bermuda has lost a valued son and I have lost a dear fried.?

?On behalf of the Government I extend the deepest sympathies of a country who has been saddened by his loss to his family. They should know the prayers of the county are with them. ?

Sir John Swan, who was Premier during Mr. Edwards reign as Commissioner, said Bermuda had lost a brilliant police man and Commissioner.

?His efforts brought about a new breed of policing,? he said. ?He served the Police Service well in organising the Police and dealing with many issue facing Bermuda.

?He was devoted to principles of justice and ensured the Police maintained their integrity . During his tenure we were fortunate to have a period of law and order that has left its mark on Bermuda. I deeply the saddened by his passing, Bermuda has lost a good former Commissioner and a dear friend.?

Current Commissioner George Jackson said Mr. Edwards was a ?caring individual who had the community at heart?.

Another former Commissioner, Frederick (Penny) Bean, spoke fondly of his long professional and personal relationship with Mr. Edwards.

?I had the pleasure working with him many years on the Police Service and he was an exceptional person. He was humble and proud and he carried himself with dignity.?

?He was extremely proud to be apart of a Bermuda Police Service and loved serving the community. He had an outstanding police career having come up through the ranks. He exhibited exemplar courage. Lenny was a man?s man and a people person, he will be sorely missed by all.?

Mr. Edwards was also active in the wider community despite his time consuming job. Former Commissioner Bean said he worked closely with Mr. Edwards at the St. James Church in Somerset.

?We worked together on many projects the last being the restoration fundraising committee,? Mr. Bean said. ?I was chairman and he was co-chairman. His contribution to the church was a remarkable and I am glad I had an opportunity to work with him he was a great guy.?

Archdecon of St. James Church and rector of Sandys parish, Dr. Arnold Hollis, said Mr. Edwards passing held mixed emotions of sadness and thanks.

?He had been for such a long time on the battlefield of life and fought valiantly holding the banner of his Lord and Saviour high until the end,? Dr. Hollis said. ?No matter what the circumstance or how uncomfortable he might be feeling his watch word was ?God is good?.?

Another friend of Mr. Edwards, retired Supt. Andrew Bermingham, said his wife, Patricia Edwards, was to be commended for ?lovingly and faithfully? nursing him through his long illness. Mr. Bermingham worked closely with Mr. Edwards in the Special Branches division.

?I saw him in hospital ten days ago,? Mr. Bermingham said. ?He faced this onus of cancer with great courage and determination over 12 years. It was a long hard fight for him and he fought it very valiantly.?

A police spokesman said the BPS was saddened by his death.

?He was a well respected officer and also a friend. Oh behalf of the Commissioner of Police and the Bermuda Police Service Family we would like to express our deepest condolences to the Edwards family and our thoughts and prayers are with you in these very trying times.?

Mrs. Edwards, thanked everyone for their kind words and concern and said her husband had thoroughly enjoyed his time with the Bermuda Police Service.

Mr. Edwards leaves behind his wife and children Judith and Robert. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.

He attended Francis Patton Primary and The Berkeley Institute. Before joining the police service he contemplated two other careers on the Island, the tourism industry or the Bermuda Militia Artillery (now part of the Bermuda Regiment).

He told he joined because the Commissioner at the time was looking for interested locals and a friend convinced him to quit his job as a bell hop at the Bermudian Hotel.

Mr. Edwards spent eight years as a Constable before he was promoted to Sergeant. After his initial promotion Mr. Edwards went on to hold many important robs in the service, including time as a detective in CID and Special Branch.

Between 1984 and 1990, Mr. Edwards became Assistant Commissioner followed by Deputy Commissioner. He was named Commissioner in 1992 and took over from Clive Donald, who could not be reached for comment last night.

One of his main aims as Commissioner was to further Bermudianise the force and he encouraged locals to avail of recruitment initiatives. He also brought Crimestoppers to Bermuda.

His time as Commissioner was not an easy one, Bermuda was confronted with enormous pressures brought on by the recession. The flagging economy in 1992 had affected Police resources, recruiting and the behaviour of the public.