ALBANY — Dougherty County Chief Assistant District Attorney Greg Edwards has been doing his job as usual, and for the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Edwards’ “usual” is exceptional.

For the courts division, Edwards Wednesday received the council’s EAGLE award.

“The CJC picks who they think the best person is ... and for the courts, Greg Edwards was the recipient this year,” said Dougherty County District Attorney Ken Hodges. The pair flew to Atlanta Wednesday for the honor.

Edwards, whose main responsibility in Dougherty County is management and administration of the felony division, was chosen from nominations from the state’s 49 judicial circuits.

“This award demonstrates his focus on victims being first,” said Hodges. “Greg is always thinking about victims, making sure their rights are represented in the criminal justice system.

“To have Greg be the one in the state who was honored for this, it means everything. That’s exactly what I want in my people, and Greg is a leader of them. He leads by example.”

Edwards said the recognition is an honor.

“I was very, very humbled and thrilled to have this recognition,” said Edwards, who has been an assistant district attorney since 1990 and chief assistant since 1995. In this year’s elections, Edwards is seeking the district attorney’s office that Hodges will vacate at the end of the year.

“Part of what I’ve always been doing as a prosecutor is being the best that I can (be),” said Edwards, a product of the Dougherty County School System, Albany State University and the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University. A Tifton native, Edwards moved to Albany at age 12.

“I wanted to be a voice for victims, and this recognition sort of indicates that I’ve been able to do that to an extent,” he said. “It gives me the encouragement to keep redoubling my efforts.”