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12.5 AWARDS Page 1 of 8 EDGEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER # 12. 5 AWARDS Revised Date: March 28, 2024 This policy contains the following numbered sections: I. Purpose II. General III. Department Awards I. PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is to establish criteria to recognize exceptional performance, commemorate dedicated service by department personnel, maintain consistency in granting awards , and enhance employee effectiveness. It i s also the purpose of this policy to provide a method to recognize outstanding contributions made by sworn, non -sworn personnel, and members of the community, so that goodwill , morale, and the spirit of teamwork may be fostered and maintained. II. GENERAL A. Any department member or citizen may be nominated for a department award. 1. Award nominations must be made in writing . 2. The award nomination must contain the following: a. Name of person submitting the nomination. b. Name of department member or citizen for whom the award is requested . c. Date, time , and location of the incident for which the nominee i s being submitted . d. Narrative detailing the circumstances of the incident for which the nominee is being submitted . 3. Any person may submit an awards nomi nation through their Chain of Command. B. The Awards Committee shall be a standing advisory committee that serves under the authority of the Chief of Police. Members of the committee are composed of department personnel selected by the Chief of Police. The committee shall initiate or receive nominations for awards via the Chain of Command. 1. The committee shall review all reward nominations (either received or self- initiated) and determine recommend ation of a department award and which award is appropriate. 2. The committee shall make recommendations to the Chief of Police. 12.5 AWARDS Page 2 of 8 3. The Award s Committee shall meet as deemed necessary by the committee chairperson. The Chief of Police shall determine the date, time and location for all committee meetings. 4. Awards Committee recommendations shall be presented to the Chief of Police by the Awards Committee Chairperson . a. The Chief of Police may either concur or not concur with th e committee’s recommendations. The Chief of Police may also choose to impose a higher or lower class of award than the committee recommends if he/she deems necessary. b. If the Chief of Police concurs with the committee’s recommendations he/she shall ensure that the award/s are presented. c. If the Chief of Police does not concur with the committee’s recommendations there shall be no appeal of his/her decision. 5. Documentation of any received award shall be placed in the recipient’s personnel file. a. The Chief of Police shall have the authority to make award determination/s exclusive from the Awards Committee. b. Award designators (ribb ons) shall be designated by the Chief of Police. 1. Award designators (ribbons) may only be worn on the Class A agency uniform during occasions deemed appropriate by the Chief of Police. 2. When worn on the department uniform, award designators (ribbons) shal l be worn centered on the pocket flap of the uniform shirt below the badge. 3. A grouping of ribbons or “rack” shall be worn with no more than three ribbons per row. Ribbons shall be arranged left to right starting with the highest ranking at the top and prog ressing to the lowest ranking at the bottom. c. Awards ceremonies shall be scheduled as deemed necessary by the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police or his designee shall determine the location of the awards ceremony. III. DEPARTMENT AWARDS A. Department awards in ranking order and the qualifications for each shall be as follows (Refer to the d iagram when building a ribbon rack for proper order ): 1. Purple Heart: Awarded to employees who sustain injuries that cause great bodily harm, permanent disability, permanent disfigurement or death as a direct result of the performance of their duties as a law enforcement officer. A medal will be awarded. 2. Medal of Valor: Awarded for conduct depicting sound judgment in which one knowingly and despite clear and present danger, death, or great bodily harm performs his/her duty. A medal will be awarded. 3. Medal of Merit: 12.5 AWARDS Page 3 of 8 Awarded for conduct depicting sound judgment where the employee or citizen displays exceptional courage or bravery. A medal will be awarded. 4. Life Saving: Awarded to employees who, while in the performance of their duties, successfully administer a lifesaving procedure on another human being who without the procedure p osed a serious chance of death. A medal will be awarded. 5. Police Commendation: Awarded to an officer who has shown commendable effort and diligence above and beyond that which is normally required for the efficient accomplishment of his/her duties. 6. Award of Administrative Excellence Award ed for non -routine conduct of an administrative nature which surpasses the responsibilities of the current assignment. 7. Chief’s Award: The Chief of Police at his/her discretion may present this award to a distinguished employee or citizen. 8. Achievement Award Awarded for achievement within the call of duty or outside the scope of duty based on consistent performance or specific achievement of a superlative nature, but which does not warrant a Commendation or higher . This award may constitute cumulative operational excellence. For awards of cumulative operational excellence based upon statistical