• Press Release: 2003-2004 Medal of Valor Nomination Period Now Closed
• 2004 Application Form and Instructions
• Medal of Valor Initiative Frequently Asked Questions
• Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Awarded by President Bush on March 22, 2004. Award recipients are: James Ahern and John Ahern, Boston, MA; Kevin Fitzhenry, Bayonne, NJ; Michael Muniz, San Antonio, TX; Barry J. Ralston, Amarillo, TX; and Marcus Young, Ukiah, CA.

• Press Release: Medal of Valor Recipients Honored at Justice March 22, 2004

Background

• The Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor is awarded by the President to public safety officers cited by the Attorney General and recommended by the Medal of Valor Review Board.

• The Attorney General designated the Assistant Attorney General's Office, Office of Justice Programs (OJP) to serve as the Federal point of contact for the Medal of Valor initiative.

  Legislation

  • The Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act, which was enacted on May 30, 2001, creates the Public Safety Medal of Valor as the highest national award for valor by a public safety officer.

  • "Public safety officer" is defined as a person (living or deceased) who serve(d) in a public agency, with or without compensation, as a firefighter, law enforcement officer (including a corrections or court officer, or a civil defense officer), or emergency services officer, as determined by the Attorney General.

  • An act of valor is defined as:
    • above and beyond the call of duty; and
    • exhibiting
      -  exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness and presence of mind.
      -  unusual swiftness of action, regardless of his or her personal safety, in an attempt to save or protect human life.

  Medal of Valor Review Board

  • On January 14, 2002, the Charter for the Medal of Valor Review Board was signed by Attorney General John Ashcroft. As required by the legislation, the eleven-member board was appointed by the President, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the U.S. Senate, and the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives.

  • The board, which comprises representatives of the public safety community and the general public, reviews the nominations and recommends individuals for recognition.

  • The first board meeting was held on March 26, 2002.

  Nominations

  • Applications must be submitted by an Appointing Authority or Agency. Public safety officers (see definition above) must be nominated by the chiefs or directors of their employing agencies.

  • Nominations must be submitted on the Medal of Valor application form.

   

  ASKOJP DOJ home Privacy Policy | FOIA