Big Island police officer Edwin Buyten has been awarded the 2010 Top Cop award of the Hawaii Police Department by the Law Enforcement & Security Coalition of Hawaii.

Buyten, a Kona vice section officer, was honored for a lengthy narcotics investigation that led to a sentence of jail and mandatory drug rehabilitation for the morphine supplier of a 31-year-old man who died from an overdose, according to the Police Department.

Detective Sherry Bird wrote in her nomination papers: "During the sentencing, the judge commented that in the five years she has served on the bench, she has never seen the complete circle of drug distribution, in this case the end of the circle being death,"

Buyten received the award on Oct. 5 at the 26th Annual Law Enforcement/Security Appreciation Luncheon at the Manoa Grand Ballroom on Oahu.