Number:2.02
Title: Awards Program
Issuing Authority: L.E. Nippins, III, PSD/CLEO / Eval. Date:Accreditation 26 Disciplinary Procedures
Accreditation Standards: 26.1.2
Revision Date / Page Numbers / Sections / Approved
SUBJECT: Awards Program
2.02 (6 pgs)
I. Purpose
The purpose of this General Order is to provide guidelines for department employees regarding the criteria for the nominating, reviewing, presenting, and displaying of department awards.
II. Policy
It will be the policy of the department, in cooperation with Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #84 (FOP), to recognize the actions of any officer, employee, or citizen that is beyond the scope of their normal duties or routine and that by its commission saves, preserves, or protects life or property. The department shall insure however, that any such recognition is merited as provided in the guidelines set forth herein. The indiscriminate distribution of unwarranted recognition serves only to minimize the impact of those acts that are truly deserving.
III. Procedure
A. Awards Committee
1. The awards committee will be appointed annually by the Director of Public Safety/Chief Law Enforcement Officer (PSD/CLEO) and the FOP President. The committee will consist of seven (7) members. Three (3) are to be appointed by the PSD/CLEO and four (4) by the FOP President. Members serve voluntarily and may serve unlimited terms at the discretion of the PSD/CLEO and FOP President.
- The PSD/CLEO appoints
- Lieutenant (1)
- Sergeant (1)
- Detective (1)
- The FOP President appoints
- Patrol Officers (4)
2. The awards committee will be appointed by May 30, of each year and will hold its first meeting in June. The chairperson will be selected by the committee at that meeting. The committee will meet quarterly thereafter.
- A meeting cannot be held unless a quorum, consisting of five (5) members is present. It is not necessary that the chairperson be present but at least one officer of supervisory rank must be present.
- Minutes will be recorded for each meeting with copies distributed to the PSD/CLEO and FOP President.
3. Any employee of the department may recommend or nominate any individual, to include him or herself, for an award. All such nominations are to be submitted directly to the PSD/CLEO with a copy forwarded to the FOP President within one calendar year of the act, and must contain the following:
a. name, address, telephone number, and rank if a sworn officer
b. a detailed account of the incident and the action taken which shall include
copies of any police or other agencies reports describing such action
c. specific award recommended
Nominations submitted after one calendar year may be considered if agreed
upon by the PSD/CLEO and FOP President.
4. In addition to nominations received from members, the PSD/CLEO will cause copies of all Performance Notices of a positive nature issued to a member of the department to be distributed to the FOP President and the committee chairperson.
5. The committee will review any nominations and Performance Notices received to determine what action, if any, should be taken. The committee may return a nomination to the nominator for further information or documentation, or may investigate an incident itself independently. Any action taken, to include investigations conducted by the committee, must be completed and recommendations forwarded to the PSD/CLEO and FOP President within sixty (60) days of the meeting.
- The PSD/CLEO and FOP President will then have thirty (30) days to act on those recommendations.
5. Should the PSD/CLEO and FOP President disagree with the committee’s recommendations they must meet with the committee chairperson within those thirty (30) days to resolve the matter or recommend other action. Other action may include, but should not be limited to, the following:
a. return to the committee for further review
b. return to the nominator for further information or documentation
Any other action must be completed and the matter must be resolved within thirty (30) days of this meeting.
6. Participants in the awards process are reminded that the criteria appearing in
this SOP are guidelines and should not be taken literally but interpreted liberally. All incidents are unique in their own sense and should be reviewed as such. The committee shall recommend the upgrading, downgrading, or denying of an award based on its review of the incident and submitted documentation. The authority for taking such action is maintained by the PSD/CLEO and FOP President.
7. Any award presented posthumously will be presented to the individual
designated to receive the award by the deceased officer’s next of kin.
B. Award Classifications
1. Medal of Valor - (medal, ribbon, certificate, plaque)
Presented for an act of heroism and outstanding courage without regard for
personal safety, which results in the saving of a life or the attempt to do so, or for the performance of an outstanding arrest where the officer’s efforts are met by an armed and dangerous adversary.
a. Criteria
- save a life, or attempt to do so without regard for personal safety
- effect the arrest of an individual while that individual is armed and
physically menacing or actually assaulting the officer
- it is not necessary that the officer’s life be in danger, only the disregard for personal safety with regard to serious bodily injury
2. Purple Heart - (medal, ribbon, certificate, plaque)
Presented to an officer who sustains injury as a direct result of a physical assault with or without a weapon; i.e., gunshot, stab wound, crowbar, baseball bat, motor vehicle, etc.
a. Criteria
- while in the performance of duty, the officer must come under hostile attack by an armed or dangerous adversary and be injured.
3. Distinguished Service Award - (medal, ribbon, certificate)
Presented to an officer who displays a high degree of initiative, professionalism, and courage in a dangerous situation.
a. Criteria
- while in the performance of duty, the officer prevents a crime, protects life or property, or apprehends a criminal by taking action that is above and beyond what would normally be required.
- without regard for personal safety, the officer saves or attempts to save a life by administering emergency aid or by other actions.
4. Meritorious Service Award - (medal, ribbon, certificate)
Presented for an act of valuable police service demonstrating special
faithfulness or perseverance including a significant arrest accomplished
through dedicated police performance.
a. Criteria
- an officer through personal efforts and investigative ability brings a
significant investigation to a successful conclusion by effecting an
arrest or otherwise resolving.
- an officer displays special faithfulness or perseverance by devoting
time over and above a normal tour of duty to resolve a significant
investigation or accomplish an important police objective or goal.
5. Letter of Commendation - (certificate)
Presented for an arrest which required the officer to put forth a special effort above and beyond what would normally be required, or for the performance of any other police service which is exceptional and beyond the requirements of routine duties.
a. Criteria
- an officer effects an arrest during a normal tour of duty by putting forth a special effort or dealing with an unusual or stressful situation.
- an officer through the application of CPR or other emergency medical techniques restores cardio-pulminary function in a nonresponsive individual or sustains such function long enough to allow a hospital or other medical facility to perform additional life-saving medical procedures.
- an officer’s personal efforts results in improving a procedure or function which enhances the effectiveness of a department component.
- an officer’s personal efforts increases the effectiveness of any department function thereby enhancing the department’s public image or reputation, (i.e., traffic accident reduction through selective enforcement programs, reduction of criminal or other illegal activity through proactive enforcement, crime prevention, or other community policing programs).
6. Letter of Recognition - (certificate)
Presented to an officer who has performed his assigned duties in an exemplary and professional manner consistent with the high professional standards set by the department.
7. Officer of the Year - (medal, ribbon, plaque)
Presented to the officer who best exemplifies the high professional standards
of the department and has consistently performed assigned duties in an
exemplary manner throughout the course of the calendar year.
8. Appreciation Award - (certificate, plaque)
Presented to a public or private individual, group, business, unit, or other agency or organization that performs a service, assists, or otherwise provides for the well being of the community and/or the department and its members.
C. Presentation of Awards
1. Once a nomination has been approved, it will be the responsibility of the PSD/CLEO to notify the recipient of such approval within thirty (30) days. The actual date, time, and location of the presentation of the award will be determined by the PSD/CLEO and FOP President. Awards will generally be presented during the department’s annual awards banquet.
a. The PSD/CLEO will also be responsible for notifying all department
employees of the award, and the date, time, and location of the presentation at least five (5) days prior to the presentation.
D. Wearing of Medals/Ribbons
1. Medals
a. May only be worn with the Class A uniform and then only to participate in functions or events where the wearing of the medals is appropriate. Wearing of medals must be approved by the PSD/CLEO prior to doing so.
b. Medals will be worn on the uniform shirt only and never on an outer garment. They are to be centered on the upper seam of the pocket flap over the left breast pocket. When wearing multiple medals, they should not extend beyond the outer edge of either side of the pocket.
c. Medals will always be worn in descending order, left to right and top to
bottom. When wearing more than one row of medals they should not overlap.
2. Ribbons
a. Ribbons are part of the uniform and are to be worn on the uniform shirt at all times except under the following conditions:
- an officer of supervisory rank suspends the wearing of ribbons for operational reasons
- the officer is wearing a special detail or tactical uniform
- at the direction of the PSD/CLEO
b. Ribbons will be worn above the badge in descending order from top to bottom.
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