Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 230.01
Page 1 of 4
230.01
COMMENDATION PROGRAM
6-27-2022
PURPOSE
The purpose of this order is to establish procedures for presenting awards and certificates to members of the
Department.
POLICY
It shall be the policy of the Sacramento Police Department to recognize employees as prescribed within this
order.
PROCEDURE
A. DEFINITION
Above and beyond the call of duty - In excess of normal identified duties, responsibilities, and community
demands.
B. GENERAL
Individuals/units that distinguish themselves by action above and beyond the call of duty shall receive
departmental recognition.
C. AWARDS AND CERTIFICATES
Departmental awards and certificates to employees/units consist of the following:
1. Medals of Valor to be awarded for bravery a bove and beyond the call of duty:
a. Gold Medal of Valor ( Uniform Bar, Me dal, and Certificate)
This medal shall be awarded to employees who undertook an action willingly and with full knowledge
of the grave risk to their own personal safety, performing a heroic deed with exceptional conduct
involving unusual courage, and:
(1) were responsible for saving or attempting to save a human life.
(2) accomplished the feat or were prevented by incurring a disabling injury or death.
b. Silver Medal of Valor ( Unifo rm Bar, Medal, and Certificate )
This medal shall be awarded when the circumstances do not fall within the provisions qualifying for a
Gold Medal of Valor, but the employee s:
(1) demonstrated outstanding bravery above and beyond that expected in the normal course of duty.
(2) undertook these actions willingly and with full knowledge of the risk, and danger to their personal
safety for the purpose of saving or protecting human life.
c. Bronze Medal of Valor ( Uniform Bar, Medal , and C ertificate)
This medal shall be awarded for bravery when the circumstances do not fall within the qualifications
required for the Gold or Silver Medals of Valor, but the employee s:
(1) performance distinguished their act of courage involving personal haza rd.
(2) action(s) prevented or attempted to prevent serious bodily injury or death to individual(s).
2. Purple Heart ( Uniform Bar, Medal, and C ertificate)
This medal shall be awarded when an employee sustain s great bodily injury during performance of their
duties.
3. Community Guardian Award ( Uniform Bar, Medal , and C ertificate)
This medal shall be awarded to employees who, under the threat of imminent and significant great bodily
injury to themselves, other officers, or community members, courageously undertook specific actions that
directly and peacefully de -escalated a significant situation that likely would have resulted in an officer
involved shooting, or other significant use of force.
4. Excellence in Empathy Award (Sworn: Uniform Bar, Medal, and Certificate; Professional Staff: Pin, Medal,
and Certificate)
This medal shall be awarded to personnel who have demonstrated remarkable acts of empathy, which
could be demonstrated by:
a. Engaging in significant act(s) of self less service to members of our Department or community.
b. Displaying extraordinary levels of professionalism during extremely difficult and adverse conditions in
which the employee’s actions reflected positively on the community and our Department.
5. Community Safety Excellence Award (Sworn: Uniform Bar, Medal and C ertificate ; Professional Staff: Pin,
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 230.01
Page 2 of 4
Medal and Certificate )
This medal shall be awarded to employee s who have courageously perform ed their most hazardous
duties in the most efficient and effective manner thus preventing great bodily injury or death to individuals.
This award is to be differ entiated from other s in that it does not require the employee to be at risk of
immediate physical harm.
6. Meritorious Service Award ( Pin, Certificate)
A Meritorious Service Award shall be presented to employees who have demonstrated a commitment to
community service and public safety through 30 -years of service with the Police Department.
7. Distinguished Service Award (DSA) ( Sworn : Uniform Bar , Medal, and Ce rtificate; Professional Staff : Pin,
Medal, and C ertificate)
The DSA may be awarded to personnel who have performed effective, efficient, and valuable service to
the Department. Such service may be a specific instance, or it may be an outstanding performance of
general duties over an extended period of time. More specifically, awards may be administered for such
qualities as:
a. performance beyond the normal work assignment.
b. developing projects, programs, and processes that have a significant impact on the apprehension of
criminal(s) or reducing or solving crime .
c. making suggestions/changes in policy/procedures resulting in improving the overall efficiency and
productivity to the Department.
d. performing superior quality of work at a high level of productivity.
e. developing personal expertise above and beyond required duty which has an impact on the
Department, profession and com munity.
8. Unit Citation ( Sworn: Uniform Bar and C ertificate ; Professional Staff: Certificate )
a. The Unit Citation may be considered for meritorious performance by an organizational element
(section, unit, team, shift, or other combination of Office members) of the Department for outstanding
service.
b. The accomplishment shall be the result of the combined efforts of members of a unit.
Examples of performance may include, but are not limited to:
(1) exceptional performance in a program or operation that exemplifies an extraordinary quality or
service.
(2) exceptional performance in conducting a