Ken Richards was honoured for ten years service with the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, which began at Helston and ended at Tavistock in 2002.
A stonemason by day, Ken saw another side of life during the evenings and weekends, when the unpredictability of his voluntary role held a certain appeal.
'You never knew what was going to happen next — sometimes it would be very quiet and the next it would all kick off,' he said.
'I had some really interesting incidents and joined the specials when the role became very hands-on.'
Ken, 55, recalls helping catch a criminal who had escaped from an open prison and committed two burglaries at Ivybridge before being arrested at the Yelverton Roundabout — and assisting the arrest of a serial arsonist in Penzance.
'It has been a real eye opener for me and a life changing experience,' he said.
'It is a confidence building thing, dealing with situations you would never normally come across and people look to you for advice and answers.
'The comradeship and support from the regular officers is also second to none — I had a great ten years as a special constable.'
Chief Inspector of the Special Constabulary in West Devon and the South Hams, Barry Pyke, said Ken did a splendid job: 'He gave lots and lots of his time freely and was involved in many good arrests both here and in Helston.'
Ken, who now lives at St Anns Chapel, spent his last four years as a special constable in Tavistock.
Long service medal recipients also included Inspector James Meakin who served at Tavistock for a time during his 23 year career and PC James Pollock, who was a community constable at Gunnislake and a patrol officer at Callington.